MY SOMALI BOOK 215 



men whose opinions, based on much experience and 

 observation of Nature, often in her most secret places, 

 are of the highest value. Mr. Selous in particular, 

 in the opening chapters of African Nature Notes and 

 Reminiscences, has done much to demolish ideas that 

 have by many for years been deemed almost incontro- 

 vertible ; on the subject especially of the supposed 

 utihty, either for protection or for purposes of recog- 

 nition, of the colouration of antelopes and others of 

 the larger mammals in Africa. 



It is because this reaction in its turn seems to me 

 to go too far and to destroy too much without producing 

 any satisfactory alternative theory, that I venture 

 to jom issue with so great an authority as Mr. Selous 

 (supported as he is by Ex-President Roosevelt), as to 

 the correctness, not of his observations, but of his 

 deductions therefrom. 



Mr. Selous discusses the cases of a number of 

 animals whose colouring from personal observation 

 he maintains does not serve to conceal them from 

 their enemies, nor in the case of carnivorous animals to 

 enable them to approach their prey unperceived ; 

 urging further that the colouring, as in the case of the 

 zebra for instance, is under most conditions decidedly 

 conspicuous rather than the reverse, as has been believed. 

 I do not propose to consider at present the details he 

 has given, for in most instances he certainly appears to 

 prove his case up to a certain point ; though it may be 

 noted that such competent observers as Mr. J. G. 

 Millais and Herr Schillings have expressed somewhat 

 contrary opinions regarding the zebra. 



But let us consider the conclusion which he draws. 



