66 MIMICRY, AND OTHER PROTECTIVE 



cats, horses, dogs, and cattle, white poultry, pigeons, 

 turkeys, and ducks, and white rabbits. Some of these 

 animals have been domesticated for a long period, 

 others only for a few centuries ; but in almost every 

 case in which an animal has been thoroughly domesti- 

 cated, parti-coloured and white varieties are produced 

 and become permanent. 



It is also well known that animals in a state of nature 

 produce white varieties occasionally. Blackbirds, star- 

 lings, and crows are occasionally seen white, as well as 

 elephants, deer, tigers, hares, moles, and many other 

 animals ; but in no case is a permanent white race 

 produced. Now there are no statistics to show that 

 the normal- coloured parents produce white offspring 

 oftener under domestication than in a state of nature, 

 and we have no right to make such an assumption if 

 the facts can be accounted for without it. But if the 

 colours of animals do really, in the various instances 

 already adduced, serve for their concealment and pre- 

 servation, then white or any other conspicuous colour 

 must be hurtful, and must in most cases shorten an 

 animal's life. A white rabbit would be more surely the 

 prey of hawk or buzzard, and the white mole, or field 

 mouse, could not long escape from the vigilant owl. 

 So, also, any deviation from those tints best adapted 

 to conceal a carnivorous animal would render the pur- 

 suit of its prey much more difficult, would place it at 

 a disadvantage among its fellows, and in a time of 

 scarcity would probably cause it to starve to death. 

 On the other hand, if an animal spreads from a 



