EXPERIMENTS ON PROTECTIVE COLORATION 489 



Experiment 8. Figures 1^0 and 4i- One Gryllus was placed on coa 

 dust mixed with small pieces of anthracite coal, the latter shining like 

 the insect's head and thorax, and one on ashes, the latter combination 

 showing much the greater contrast. The chicken was about 1.5-2 m. 

 distant. It approached slowly on the side of the coal background 

 from which it first took the insect and immediately after that on the 

 ashes. 



Experiment 9. Same as Experiment 8. The chicken wandered 

 around for al)out three minutes and then approached the background 

 on the side of the coal, but took the cricket from the ashes, followed 

 immediately by that on the coal. 



In both Experiments 8 and 9 the chicken several times passed near 

 the backgrounds (within a half meter) without apparently seeing the 

 insects before it finally took them. 



Experiment 10. Figures 30 and 38. One Melanoplus was placed 

 on earth over which were scattered bits of dry leaves and one on ashes, 



.^.x 





'-; 



Fig. F 



the latter combination showing the greater contrast. The chicken 

 was about 1.5 m. distant. Almost immediately it approached the back- 

 grounds but passed them and then turning back took the insect from 

 the ashes and a few seconds later took that on the earth background. 

 During this interval the insect on the latter was apparently unnoticed 

 by the chicken. 



Experiment 11. Figures 25 and 40. Three Gryllus were placed 

 on each of two backgrounds of moist earth, A and C, and three on 

 ashes, J5, arranged as showai in the accompanying sketch (fig. F). 

 The latter combination showed greater contrast. The chicken was 

 about 2 m. distant at the beginning of the experiment. After a minute 

 or two it approached the backgrounds to X, within about 0.5 m. of 

 them, without apparently seeing the insects. From here it went to 

 C and took three, and then two from B and one from A. 



Experiment 12. Figures 31 and 41. In this experiment several 

 backgrounds, some composed of sifted lime and some of a mixture of 

 earth and straw, were arranged alternately at one end of the cage. 

 Six Melanoplus were placed on the lime backgrounds and six on the earth 

 and straw, the former combination forming a strong contrast ; the latter 

 a close resemblance. A hen was then turned loose in the cage. She 

 soon approached the backgrounds, taking four insects from the straw- 

 earth backgrounds and then four from the lime. 



THE JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY, VOL. 20. NO. 4 



