Camouflage 187 



consequently, few plants find a footing here. And for 

 a considerable area along the margin, the clear, shallow 

 depths also appear quite barren of animal life — at least 

 it would thus appear to the inexperienced. Save for a 

 few small snails clustered in the furrows of the rippled 

 floor or an occasional hermit crab cautiously roaming 

 about, there would probably be little else to attract the 

 notice of the average passer-by; yet unknown to him 

 he would be the focus of many pairs of eyes belonging 

 to creatures much larger than these. If he unsuspect- 

 ingly steps into the water at this place, surprising evi- 

 dence of this fact will manifest itself. Almost from 

 under his feet will be a scurrying of shadowy forms 

 slightly smaller than his hand, in length and breadth. 

 Let him follow one of these creatures in its flight and 

 determine exactly where it stops, and he will discover 

 that he is utterly unable to locate it. So completely has 

 it effaced itself from view that he begins to doubt his 

 sense of seeing. With a hand net he may perhaps suc- 

 ceed in capturing one of these elusive shadows, but not 

 so long as it is content to remain at rest on the bottom. 

 It must first be startled from its place and then be 

 caught on the leap, so to speak. 



After which it will prove to be a fish; a flounder, in 

 fact, or flatfish (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) . A 

 very unusual fish it is, also; and in more ways than 

 would appear at firsthand. It swims and lies flat on 

 one side, the lower side being white, or colorless, while 

 the upper side is grained and mottled and presents an 

 appearance identical with the coarse, sandy floor of its 

 haunts. These imitative markings are not confined to 

 the body alone; they extend over the fins and tail. 



