Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-06-13
CAMOUFLAGE IN NATURE
Numerous Examples Appear-Pssa1
Hear In North--IseOpnrd In Jungle

NumerOuH Examples Appe0h-fosaW
Hear In North-IseOpnrd in Jungle
Camoufiage is the new word coined bN
the ready Frenchman for the art OF con-
cealment by Graduating and changing
the outlines Of objects, and by painting
and coloring such devices to such meas
ure that 1t Is impossible to observe them
from a short distance. The art is daily
being more and more perfected. until
the whole process OF fighting becomes
largely one OF deception, says Robert H
Mouton.
But is camouflage a product of the hu-
man mind? Have we truly discovered q
new method of wsging warfare and prey<
ing upon our foes?
Existence from time mmemorial has
been a constant process of preying. the
stronger and more clever surviving the
weak All life Is a continual struggle
between the different forms and cassesi
Large and strong forms prey upon the
weaker. And camouflage, or deception
adaptive coloring and shape, are the wea-
pons scattered among every class Of lifeJ
plant and animal. Such gifts are Law
ished upon dumb life by nature with
three different objects in views protocol
ton. attraction, and destruction.
In the snowy wastes Of the north, lif0
has taken upon itself, through long ages
Of trial and error. white raiment imi~
tative of the white stretches surrounding
| them. Conspicuous examples are the
polar bear, the white fox, the ptarmiganS
and the white or snowy owl, each OF
which is armed with the same adaptive
covering.
| In the tropics and jungle regions are
! found the most astonishing examples oH
| imitation and mimicry. Here is pro-.
| fuse specialization of color and pattern
| to harmonic and fuse with the usal en-
vronment. in order to render the bearer,
| indistnguishable, or to simulate with
| fidelity some particular object. The spot
| ted skin of the leopard. dull orange and
| black, is in perfect harmony with the
notified lights and shades of the sumo
fecked jungles. The tiger, the giraffe,
! zebra, and other African wild beasts are
| covered with stripes representing the
| barred lights OF that land.
| The camouf1age of the butterfly is the
| most astonishing of any creature. Mott
| tied wings, gay-colored markings. imfs
tate the hues Of flowers on which the
butterfly rests and feeds, and thus the
bird in search of a dainty morsel passes
| over. seeing only a vivid hued mass OF
petals. Other butterflies initiate exactly
| the leaves of bushes on which they
alight to rest. Furnished beetles. paintS
ed dragon fiies green katydids. lichenI
spiders and countless other forms Of
life which inhabt the plant SPHERE
might be cited.
Grass snakes sand snakes, and tres
snakes easily hide themselves in their
respective environment. The tree-toad,
clinging along some bough Of tree;
seems to be a knot or lump in the wood.
Hanging there unseen, flies and butter
flies hover near without fear. only to b
snapped UP by a long. forksd tongue
the prey Of the willy hunter. Tho -
called walking stick. SO closely. 70
sembles q twig that, although commaQ
enough In the woods It 10 seldom Ids.
covered and captured.
Among BIRDS the art Of concealment d
almost perfect. Not only the birds them
selves, but their nests. blend harmonious
, ls with their surroundings. 1t 10 possible
for a close observer to get within a few
! feet Of the nest Of sitting bird. in thu
grass. among the leaves, in the sand,
without discovering 1t. Other birds feign
injury for the purpose Of Turing an in
5 truder from the vicinity Of their nest o,
r young. Large birds, such as eaglea
2 herons. hawks, eto, select for an out.
l. look post a perch in some dead tree
n where. while viewing the landscape un.
Q INSTRUCTED. they themselves look for al
the world like the stub or stump Of
!, dead limb.
r Concealment Of trenches is but an imA
e tation Of the instructive protection pre-.
t pared over the burrows and holes d
i wild animals.
+ When fighting in a desert land or Al
( arid country, the trenches are hidden
|, with sand emplacements--lf the vicinity
j. is wooded or brush covered. hurdles o.
n woven wires. fascines. shrubbery, AMI
| 10
4 Of the opposing forces. The uniforml
e which our soldiers have adopted ar,
q those which most readily fuse into tn,
"a topography.
y A comparison Of the natural instincttv
concealment prscticed by the hunter AM
"a hunted animal, with the camouhage d
~ our soldiery. will render more cleari,
:, the imitation practiced by man.
a In the jungle a huge python lies hid
den from its prey. waiting. 1t resemble
" some twisted. fallen branch. and is un
. noticed by the small furred creature
>" which pass near. Suddenly the pytho
10 strikes. the captured creature is crushe
~ and disappears into the throat Of tn
u hunter.
On~ Of the adaptable and known form
u. Is the chameleon or salamander, whic
~ changes its hue to At the color OF tn
T. object on which It rests.
N Fish of the streams and lakes ar
u dappled or striped with celebration whic
~ fuses into the bed or rush covered depth
RI of the water whereas fsh Of the dec
at seas are frequently dark in color to rs1
a. der them indistinguishable from thel
Of enemies.
nd Man has constructed the submarine I
sn course the ocean depths. initiating I
ol shape and dark hue the sea monster
cd He has produced a winged ma0hin,
rs along the lines Of the bird or buttsrfi,
d. and has painted 1t white that it ma
An speed among the clouds unseen In I'll
- cutie fsh, which turks I'm the depths
he the sea, We And. perhaps, the origin
at our smoke 'barrage." the art Of cor
er cealing beneath a heavy, impsnetrab
h cloud the actions Of an attacking fore
n, The cutie fsh employs a heavy, daI
le, fluid, which 1t elects upon attack, tn,
M hiding it from the enemy.
rk Every conceivable Invention of trappir
n man. or Of enticing him into dargsro,
On zones, Ia being utilized in the warfa,
ira OF to day. 1t Is but an advanced meths
he of ambuscade. The art Of camouha,
bs OF deception is brought into use to col
600 ceal the traps and contrivances arranR,
10 for the reception of the enemy. Wire q
-, Engagements, hurdles Of brush, palisade
"a. pits, pointed chevaux de frise, land mine
"a the surrounding country.
n, Though the paint brush In one of Il
~ valuable implements of war as conducts
~. to- day. It is but mans tardy appreci
' ton Of secrets known to birds. beas