86 AFRICAN GAME ANIMALS 



ation of the belly In the cases where It Is white are of no 

 consequence; when stationary the chipmunk or rabbit con- 

 ceals the white, and therefore the white cannot conceal 

 the animal. Evidently in these very numerous cases the 

 white color has been developed by some force wholly 

 diverse from selection working for concealment. 



As this Is true of multitudes of species, there seems 

 scant reason to assume that in other species the same type 

 of coloration is assumed through selection working for con- 

 cealment. Nor is this all. If countershading were pro- 

 duced by selection working for concealment, it would mani- 

 fest itself at that time in the animal's life when it would 

 be of use; and when animals fail to possess It they would 

 be at a disadvantage. Neither supposition is true. In the 

 case of beasts of prey, the prime use of countershading would 

 be when they are crouched for the final rush, or crouched 

 as they lie In wait or slink stealthily forward toward their 

 prey. But, as a matter of fact, the countershading largely 

 or entirely disappears when the animal crouches; the lion, 

 leopard, tiger, or puma when crouched loses all or almost 

 all of the effect of the countershading. This is just as true 

 of the beasts that are preyed on. Deer, hares, mice, all 

 squat when they wish to escape observation; and all or 

 almost all of the countershading disappears as soon as the 

 animal crouches flat to the ground. Concealment, and 

 cryptic coloration as a help to concealment, are of most 

 value to young animals; the young are far more apt to try 

 to escape observation than are adults; they trust for safety 

 to hiding and remaining motionless, and they always crouch 

 flat, usually with head and neck extended, in such circum- 

 stances. In other words, the countershading loses practi- 



