I9ii Allen, Roosevelt on Concealing Coloration. 475 



negligible element in concealing them; they are concealed because 

 their dull colors, round contours, and absolute immobility make 

 them look like lumps of mud, or other natural objects so that the 

 eye fails to distinguish them from their surroundings, as one fails 

 to distinguish a muddy tennis ball. On an absolutely flat and 

 bare surface they are seen at once ... .Where the color [white] 

 is simply on the belly, it does not advertise the animal, merely 

 because it is not seen; that is, instead of this coloration concealing 

 the animal, the animal conceals the coloration, and it has no effect 

 one way or the other." 



The coloration of mammals in respect to their concealing or 

 advertising qualities is discussed at great length (for about 40 

 pages), special attention being given to the larger species, as the 

 giraffe, zebra, antelopes and deer of many species, and the carni- 

 vores, from the point of view of the author's wide personal experi- 

 ence as a field naturalist and hunter, with particular reference to 

 such much-discussed species as the pronghorn, giraffe, zebra, lion, 

 leopard, and cougar. In the course of this discussion he says: 

 "The first, and by far the most important, fact brought home to 

 any competent observer is that as regards the great majority of 

 these animals the question of cover infinitely outweighs the ques- 

 tion of coloration in the problem of concealment; this being so 

 true that when there is no adequate cover most of the big animals 

 do not trust to concealment at all, and concealment, whether of 

 coloration or otherwise, plays no part in making their lives success- 

 ful. Next comes the fact that there are some animals, chiefly cats, 

 whose peculiar physical address in hiding and in stealthy approach 

 and escape is such that their ability in this respect far outweighs 

 the question of coloration, and even the question of cover, provided 

 the cover is in any way adequate. Finally, there are some animals 

 as to which it is possible that the coloration does have a concealing 

 effect of some importance." 



" The cougar," with which Mr. Roosevelt has had exceptional 

 experience in its natural haunts, he views as "an interesting beast 

 from every standpoint, including its coloration; and a study of 

 the effect of its coloration from the 'concealing' standpoint is, 

 or ought to be, illuminating, when taken in consideration with 

 much that is written about the concealing quality of the coloration 



