COLORATION OF GAME ANIMALS. 4^ 



game. The usual theories offered as explanations for their coloration are, practically, 

 protection, sexual and recognition marks. These theories possibly explain, more or 

 less, the colours of some of the smaller mammals and little buck, but in no way 

 satisfactorily explain those of all the larger animals. To commence with the human 

 being, why does Europe produce white men, Africa black men, and Asia brown 

 and yellow men ? Why should Northern Europe produce people with fair hair and 

 blue eyes, while Southern Europe produces men with dark hair and dark eyes ? 

 This can be neither caused for the sake of protection, mutual recognition, or sexual 

 considerations, nor for any purpose of utility. Surely it must be the work of 

 imperfectly understood influences of climate or environment ? 



Admitting then that certain conditions of colour are induced by the action of 

 climate or environment, we have the general reasons for different colours, as at 

 present known, viz. : — 



(i.) Utility. This includes assimilation with its surrounding for both beast of 

 prey and beast preyed on. Possibly also recognition and other marks. 



(ii.) Display, with which is associated sexual adornments. 



(iii.) Considerations of climate and environment. 



Utility may be utility of colour for the stalker or for the stalked. Both should 

 aim at being inconspicuous. There is, in addition, utility in coloration to serve other 

 purposes. For the stalker, one would instance first the lion, as being of one of the 

 most useful colours. Anyone who has seen how conspicuously a lion stands out 

 against green or burnt grass might at first doubt this. The lion, however, is coloured 

 for night work, mostly in the open, and for this purpose khaki is a most perfect 

 colour. If anyone doubt this let him walk out on a dark night with two men, the one 

 dressed in khaki and the other in black. The latter will be seen ten yards away, 

 when the former is invisible at five. 



Much of the final stage of a lion's hunting consists of stalking an animal 

 upwind as near as h(^ ran get undetected, then making a sudden rush and catching 

 his victim before it is aware of its danger or can make use of its superiority in 

 pace. For such purposes as these the lion's colour is admirably adapted. The 

 only method used mucii for killing during the daytime — and even this is but 

 seldom resorted to — is lying in wail, concealed by rushes or cover, near some 

 favourite water-hole of game. From this cover the lion is ready to spring out on 

 anytiiiiig coming within reach. Here the very act of lying perfectly still is 

 sutlicient to allow him to rem.uii undeiected by any game upwind. Moreover, h(^ 

 is generally wholly concealed from view. At times, however, the head is cautiously 

 poked out or raised up above the grass or reeds to reconnoitre. The black ears arc 



