318 Thayer on Protective Coloration. \ o^ 



Creepers contained in the American Museum of Natural History ; 

 to Dr. C. Hart Merriam for the use of the specimens in the 

 collection of the Department of Agriculture ; and to Mr. Robert 

 Ridgway for his courtesy in allowing similar access to the collec- 

 tion of the National Museum. 



FURTHER REMARKS ON THE LAW WHICH UNDER- 

 LIES PROTECTIVE COLORATION. 



BY ABBOTT H. THAYER. 



Since writing my article on protective coloration in the April 

 Auk (XIII, 1896, pp. 124-129), I have alighted on the means of 

 still more complete ocular demonstration of the law of protective 

 coloration. 



I made some wooden eggs about the size of a Woodcock's body, 

 and provided them with wire legs to poise them six inches above 

 the ground. 



Most of these I colored in imitation of the color-gradation of a 

 grouse or hare ; earth-color above, to pure white beneath ; while 

 to two others I gave a coat of earth-color all over, above and 

 below ; then set the whole like a flock of ' shore birds,' on the 

 bare ground in a city lot. 1 



I then summoned a naturalist and let him begin at forty or fifty 

 yards to look for them. He saw immediately the two mono- 

 chrome ones ; but although told exactly where to look, failed to 

 find any of the others, until within six or seven yards, and even 

 then only by knowing exactly where to look. 



I had also painted bright blue and red spots as big as a silver 

 quarter of a dollar on the brown back of one of the graded eggs. 

 These spots the naturalist saw, when we had come pretty near, 



1 To give the gradation its complete effect, the painting of the wooden 

 eggs should be done after they are placed on the ground and of course by an 

 artist. 



