478 Allen, Roosevelt on Concealing Coloration. |_bct. 



in the Animal Kingdom,' these strictures being characterized by 

 Mr. Thayer as an "extraordinary tirade." Mr. Thayer's paper 

 appeared in the July issue of the 'Popular Science Monthly," 

 after Mr. Roosevelt's article was already in type. Both papers 

 are of course controversial and need not be further mentioned in 

 this connection but both should be read by those especially 

 interested in the problems of animal coloration. 



In our mention of Mr. Thayer's book, ' Concealing-Coloration 

 in Animals,' published in the April number, 1910, of this magazine 

 (Vol. XXVII, pp. 222-225), the notice was purposely descriptive, 

 from the view-point of the author, and non-critical. At the time 

 it was written there had been time to give it only perfunctory 

 examination, and while certain seemingly extravagant claims were 

 noticed, there was then neither time nor opportunity to take up 

 the work critically, owing to pressure of other duties. It was 

 recognized, however, that to discuss the merits and demerits of 

 the work would require not only a considerable outlay of time 

 but an indefinite and very large amount of space for their presenta- 

 tion. Later it became evident, on further study of the work, 

 that to review it on its merits would require the space of a booklet 

 and a large expenditure of time. It seems therefore opportune 

 that the task has been undertaken by a field naturalist of recog- 

 nized fitness, through an experience with both large and small 

 game of unequalled extent, amid not only natural but the most 

 diversified surroundings. The tone of Mr. Roosevelt's paper is 

 judicial and fair, personally kind toward Mr. Thayer, but out- 

 spoken and emphatic in criticising what he considers errors in his 

 methods and conclusions. He does not lay claim to final judg- 

 ment on points where it seems to him our knowledge is incomplete, 

 and in such cases frankly says, 'I do not know,' and appeals to 

 naturalist to further investigate doubtful points. He has endeav- 

 ored to apply "common sense" to evident misstatements and the 

 misapplication or misinterpretation of facts. 



When in November, 1896, at a meeting of the American Orni- 

 thologists' Union in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Mr. Thayer gave 

 a demonstration of his discovery of the effect of countershading, 1 



i See Auk, XIV. 1896, pp. S.5. S6. 



