^°^9lV"] ^^^^^^ Literature. 223 



1909,' under the title 'An Arraignment of the Theories of Mimicry and 

 Warning Colors.' Thus the general principles and outlines of Mr. Thayer's 

 discoveries have become more or less well known to a large number of 

 naturalists, and their important bearing on previous theories of protective 

 coloration has been widely recognized. For nearly twenty years he has 

 persistently continued his studies and experiments, visiting tropical coun- 

 tries for the express purpose of widening his opportunities for research, 

 and in the present volume we have his mature results. The main text 

 has been prepared by his son, who has worked with him in his investiga- 

 tions, evidently under the close supervision of Mr. Thayer, who has contrib- 

 uted an introductory essay on the general subject, and supplementary 

 matter in the form of footnotes and addenda to the main text. Mr. 

 Thayer's important discoveries in the field of animal coloration are here 

 for the first time elaborately set forth and profusely illustrated. 



In the preface it is stated: "The present book has been constructed 

 for two main purposes: First, to lay before the comparatively few natura- 

 lists and others who have appreciated the original articles on the subject, 

 the results of my father's further researches, with examples of the working 

 of the newly revealed laws in many branches of the animal kingdom; 

 and second, to present the matter, both in its simplest terms and variously 

 elaborated, to a wider circle of readers. We hope thus to clear the way to 

 a more general understanding and more intelligent study of the relations 

 between animals' costumes and their environments." 



The 'Introduction' (pp. 3-12) is an essay by Abbott H. Thayer, on the 

 "psychological and other basic principles" of the subject, in which it is 

 claimed that while protective coloration in animals is naturally considered 

 as belonging to the province of the zoologist, "it properly belongs to the 

 realm of pictorial art, and can be interpreted only by painters. For it 

 deals wholly in optical illusion, and this is the very gist of a painter's life. 

 He is born with a sense of it;. . . .and his pictures live by it." The revela- 

 tion of principles and facts relating to the subject which have escaped the 

 penetration of the naturalist prove that this claim is not an empty boast. 



No adequate synopsis of Mr. Thayer's work can be given within the 

 limits available in the present connection, but a summary of the twenty- 

 seven chapter headings, with a minimiun of comment, will give some 

 intimation of its scope and methods. Thus, in Chapter I, "the law which 

 underlies Protective Coloration" is introduced and analyzed. This law 

 is thus stated: "Animals are painted by Nature darkest on those parts 

 which tend to be most lighted by the sky's light, and vice versa." It is 

 shown that "light-and-shade is more important than color, because it is 

 an attribute of form, while color is only secondarily so." Chapter II 

 includes definition of terms and illustrations of "obliterative coloration" 

 (figs. 1-13). Protective or disguising coloration tends to render animals 

 invisible in their normal haunts, while ' mimicry,' as the term is here used, 



1 Vol. LXXV, pp. 555-570, with 2 half-tone plates and 12 text figures. 



