THE COLORATION OF LARGE ANIMALS 23 



foliage and scenery) of the chital are practically the same 

 as those of the fallow-deer in summer. Both species fre- 

 quent forest glades in large herds during the daytime, and 

 seek repose under the shade of spreading trees. It may 

 be added that another species of spotted deer inhabiting 

 the tropics — namely, the Philippine spotted deer — resembles 

 the chital in retaining its dappled livery at all seasons. 



From these facts it is safe to conclude that among the 

 members of the deer tribe a white-spotted coat is a pro- 

 tective adaptation to a diurnal life among the glades of 

 leafy woods. When such woods, as in the tropics, retain 

 their foliage throughout the year, the deer likewise retain 

 their spots. On the other hand, when, as in the northern 

 temperate zone, the trees become bare and leafless in winter, 

 the deer assume a dull-coloured uniform livery in harmony 

 with the sombre conditions of their inanimate surroundings. 



One other point in connection with the above-mentioned 

 species of spotted deer deserves brief mention. All of 

 them, whether spotted in summer only or throughout the 

 year, have " recognition marks " on their hindquarters. In 

 the fallow-deer and chital these take the form of a white 

 under-surface to the tail and white on the portion of the 

 buttocks against which it rests, while in the sikas there is 

 a patch of extensile white hairs on the buttocks. When 

 the tail is raised in flight, as is always the case, a large 

 white '' blaze " is displayed, which serves not only to 

 indicate the direction in which to fly, but likewise as a 

 danger signal to the entire herd. Evidently these strongly 

 pronounced " recognition marks," which are not developed 

 in nocturnal and thicket-haunting deer of the sambar type, 

 are correlated with the habit of frequenting the outskirts 

 or glades of forests during daylight in large herds. 



The various races of the sambar which have exchanged 



