COLORATION 89 



countershading as non-concealing (although wapiti still 

 dwell much in the forest, so that there has been apparently 

 no change in the character of the surroundings), or, far 

 more probably, that the coloration is of no survival conse- 

 quence. The sambur, according to Doctor Hornaday, is 

 very difficult to see in its own haunts. Evidently these 

 solid-colored, non-countershaded creatures are just as con- 

 cealingly colored as their countershaded or spotted and 

 varied kinfolk. The coloration is evidently of no conse- 

 quence so far as their foes are concerned; habit and cover 

 are the vital factor in avoiding their enemies. 



The ordinary red fox, so widely distributed in the Hol- 

 arctic realm, offers a case where several forms, one counter- 

 shaded, another solid-colored, another inversely counter- 

 shaded, all exist in the same species. The black fox is 

 rare; but the specimens are as fat and in as good condi- 

 tion as those of other colors, showing that they are as 

 successful in life. The cross-fox is in places the dominant 

 form, the development of an inverse countershading having 

 had no detrimental effect on its welfare. The red fox is in 

 all its forms very conspicuous, its coloration being reveal- 

 ing and not concealing. In none of the forms of this species 

 has natural selection had any effect in securing a conceal- 

 ing coloration for the highly predatory, much persecuted, 

 and very successful animal. 



Fully as significant is the case of the topi. This animal 

 is really inversely countershaded, the color being some- 

 what lightest on the back, while the shoulders and thighs 

 are very dark. This inverse countershading makes its 

 coloration more conspicuous than that of its cousin the 

 hartebeest. The third member of the group, the wilde- 



