Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-02
PUZZLES IN COLoRS.
Why Purple Plants Are Poisonous
and Some Other Problems.

From Pearson's Weekly.
IE summer weather ladies. and men, too.
when possible. wear white Why? To keep
cool, of course, you will say
If this be SO, why. then. are almost all
the creatures that live In arctic regions
clothed in white? The usual reply is That
the white color is for protective purposes
In order in fact to make them Invisible TO
their enemies In the midst of the wastes OF
STOW.
But. consider again-is this reasonable?
From whom does the polar bear need 10
hide? He has enemies to fear. And as
for the birds which assume white plu-
mage when they migrate north, surely they
also have far fewer foes in the polar re-
gions than when further south
Again. if white be cool color, this Is
surely another reason against the inhao-
itants of the coolest regions turning Whlte
at the approach of winter 1t Is easy 70
strengt hen this argument visit the tropics
and you will find hardly any white animals
or birds In the very hottest regions OF the
globe not only is man, as rule, Diackr put
the birds and beasts are either very dark
or else extremely brilliant IN color or
tropical birds the commonest colors run as
follows: Brown, dark green and dark blue,
emerald green, reds and yellows
Speaking of birds again, why is Il thar
land birds are mostly dark hueo' ~ihie 81
many sea birds are whitef
Here is another color puzzle. Almost an
song birds are somber in hue whiie the
brightly colored species SUCH as Tue jays
the parrots and BIRDS OF paraoise' HaSe
naturally harsh voices.
The colors of flowers and leaves otter
numbers of interesting problems. NO one
su;ite knows why the prevailing INT OF
90 riy snring flowers is either white or yet-
low yellow. indeed holds its own to some
axtent all through the summer, put the
t,,nical color of summer blooms is PINK,
willie as the autumn advances richer
crirnsons and all the rich, glowing hues Oh
d.i,ltas and srysanthemums are seen
JIorttcuIturists have produced poppies OF
rrettv nearly every shade under the sun,
and with many flowers they seem apte 10
alter the colors almost as they pleise- 1ss
the bI,le rose. the black tulip and the green
In snfte of constant efforts to arrive at
item. Nearly three centuries ago Datca
e,s,Ydeners imagined themselves on tie verge
of inventing a black tulip
rne colors of the blossom OF fruit trees
are limited TO white, pink. bright scarlet
and purple. The reason no one kh5 ''s, No'
is ii clear why nearly all plants with pur-
ME blossoms have poisonous properties Inc
deadly nightshade is an instance winch VIII
he familiar to all country readers
II used to be said and many Still imagine
tbat intensity OF color depends upon inten-
sify of light. The brilliancy OF a tropieai
Landscape seems in some measure 10 bear
This out hut any amount of arguments may
be deduced against It, Rubies, opals and
other exquisite gems are dug from the
depths of the earth.
The rays of the sun have never touched
them The pulp of some fruits Is more
richly tinted than the outer rind. while the
crimson blood of animals is hidden from the
light. What could be more rich and mag
Iaificent in color than the wings OF many
moths Yet these are all night fixing erea-
lures