in Freedom 133 



The pretty little plovers watch not far off, with 

 their white breasts banded with black across the front, 

 and their pale-brown backs, assimilating in a most 

 beautiful manner with the stones amongst which they 

 are standing. 



There seems to be nothing in nature which has 

 not its counterpart, so that, however brilliant a bird's 

 plumage may be, it always finds surroundings on the 

 ground or amongst the trees which will assist in con- 

 cealing it from view. 



The male golden oriole, for instance, a bird of 

 brilliant yellow and black plumage, can become almost 

 invisible in an oak tree, where the sunlight strikes down 

 through the foliage, causing bright yellow lights on the 

 leaves and also deep shadows. 



And birds are supplied with plumage not only to 

 shield them from others that prey upon them, but these 

 again in their turn are coloured in such a way that they 

 may be unobserved by birds on which they wish to prey. 



The ger-falcon and the snowy owl are instances. 

 For they live a great deal in regions where there is 

 much snow, but their white plumage renders them 

 invisible to the ptarmigan and willow grouse on which 

 they feed, and whose feathers are also white in winter 

 to conceal them. But the raven, on whom no other 

 bird preys, and who is content to devour carrion, 

 although he may have his residence in similar regions, 

 needs not a protective plumage, and is satisfied with a 

 colouring of boldest black. Yet he, too, amongst the 

 clefts and shadows of the rocks, can render himself a 

 by no means striking object. 



