° 1912 ] Allen, The Concealing Coloration Question. 507 



animals the only necessary factor in their preservation. My 

 answer to that was that it seemed to me there must be some signifi- 

 cance in the fact that there existed in so many undisputed cases 

 so evident a concealing power in coloration. Would this conceal- 

 ment exist if it conferred no benefit upon its possessors? To me 

 it seems only reasonable to assume that concealing coloration has a 

 real reason for being. This is not saying, of course, that all ani- 

 mals are protectively colored. It may be, as is generally believed, 

 that many animals do not need such protection, but the more 

 one studies Mr. Thayer's discoveries in this field of concealing 

 coloration, the more one comes to suspect its approximate uni- 

 versality, and the readier one is to believe that the concealment 

 thus brought about has a protective value that is of benefit to the 

 wearer. As to the relative value of coloration on the one hand and 

 wariness and intelligence on the other, it seems to me, as I have 

 already stated, that the various factors are so interdependent that 

 it is impossible to say which is of the most use. 



Another interesting objection to one of Mr. Thayer's theories 

 was brought to light by the testimony of two members as to the 

 unerring aim Math which foxes and dogs sprang upon prey that 

 they had located only by scent. This may militate seriously 

 against Mr. Thayer's contention that the final spring, even in the 

 case of animals that habitually hunt by scent, is directed by sight 

 alone. More observation is necessary to settle this interesting 

 point. A failure to establish Mr. Thayer's claim here would go 

 far to weaken his position on the banner-mark question. 



