cH. ii] rilOTECTl\ E COLORATION 48 



interest and enjoyment a deer-forest or grouse-moor 

 can afford. 



The wildebeest or gnu were the shyest and least 

 plentiful, but in some ways the most interesting, be- 

 cause of the queer streak of ferocious eccentricity 

 evident in all their actions. They were of all the 

 animals those that were most exclusively dwellers in 

 the open, where there was neither hill nor bush. Their 

 size and their dark bluish hides, sometimes showing- 

 white in the sunlight, but more often black, rendered 

 them more easily seen than any of their companions. 

 But hardly any plains animal of any size makes any 

 effort to escape its enemies by eluding their observa- 

 tion. Very much of what is connnonly said about 

 "protective coloration" has no basis whatever in fact. 

 Black and white are normally the most conspicuous 

 colours in nature (and yet are borne by numerous 

 creatures who have succeeded well in the struggle for 

 life) ; but almost any tint, or combination of tints, 

 among the greys, browns, and duns harmonizes fairly 

 well with at least some surroundings in most land- 

 scapes ; and in but a few instances among the larger 

 mammals, and in almost none among those frequenting 

 the open plains, is there the slightest reason for sup- 

 posing that the creature gains any benefit whatever 

 I from what is loosely called its "protective coloration." 

 : Giraffes, leopards, and zebras, for instance, have actually 

 been held up as instances of creatures that are " pro- 

 tectingly " coloured, and are benefited thereby. The 

 giraffe is one of the most conspicuous objects in nature, 

 ' and never makes the slightest effort to hide. Near by 

 I its mottled hide is very noticeable, but, as a matter of 

 ] fact, under any ordinary circumstances any possible foe 

 ( trusting to eyesight would discover the giraffe so far 



