Animals are of the Colour of their Haunts. 51 



October. In reference to Mr. Berry's communication, I 

 may observe, that in many dozens of stoats which I have seen 

 in summer, I have never yet seen a white one ; whereas 

 in winter, I have seen in the same neighbourhoods a con- 

 siderable number of white stoats. Where the climate is more 

 excessive, and the transitions of the seasons are more sudden, 

 this change is much more likely to take place generally. In 

 the fur countries, the ermine's change of hue is, I believe, 

 most regular. 



There has been, strangely enough, a difference of opinion 

 among naturalists, as to whether these seasonal changes of 

 colour were intended by Providence as an adaptation to change 

 of temperature*, or as a means of preserving the various 

 species from the observation of their foes, by adapting their 

 hues to the colour of the surface ; against which latter opinion 

 it has been plausibly enough argued, that " nature provides 

 for the preyer as well as for the prey." The fact is, they 

 answer both purposes ; and they are among those striking in- 

 stances of design^ which so clearly and forcibly attest the 

 existence of an omniscient great First Cause. Experiment 

 demonstrates the soundness of the first opinion ; and sufficient 

 proof can be adduced to show that the other is also sound. 

 Some arctic species are white, which have no enemy to fear, 

 as the polar bear, the gyrfalcon, the arctic eagle-owl, the snowy 

 owl, and even the stoat; and therefore, in these, the white- 

 ness can only be to preserve the temperature of their bodies 

 [VI. 79.]; but when we perceive that the colour of noc- 

 turnal animals, and of those defenceless species whose habits 

 lead them tobe much exposed, especially to enemies from above, 

 are invariably of the same colour with their respective natural 

 haunts, we can only presume that this is because they should 

 not appear too conspicuous to their enemies. Thus, in the 

 eloquent language of Mr. Mudief, who, however, advocates 

 the first opinion, " the ptarmigan is lichen rock in summer, 

 hoar frost in autumn, and snow in winter. Grouse are brown 

 heather, black game are peat bank and shingle, and partridges 

 are clods and withered stalks, all the year round." So, also, 

 on the Continent, the common red-legged partridge (Ery- 

 thropus vulgaris) is of the colour of the gravelly and sandy 

 soils on which it is found. So, also, are the different larks, the 

 common quail, the various snipes, and all the other ground 

 squatters, of the hue of their peculiar localities. So, also, 

 are the numerous small Grallatores which haunt the margin 



* See Dr. Stark's paper, before cited, in Jameson's PhilosophicalJournal 

 for July, 1834. [See M. N. H., vi. 79.J 



t See Mu die's Feathered Tribes of the British Islands, i. 50. 



e 2 



