CHAPTER XIV 



COLOUR AND COLORATION, MIMICRY AND MIMETIC ARTIFICE, 

 AMONG SHORE ANIMALS 



To add to what has been written on these subjects may 

 seem rather presumptuous, but those who have made 

 marine zoology, in the field, their special study must 

 be aware that, with all that has been done in this 

 particular section, it has not received its full: share of 

 attention. Moreover, some that lias been written on it is 

 entirely wrong. 



I have touched on the subject in several instances in the 

 preceding chapters, so there will be a little repetition in 

 this one. 



Starting with the sponges, the lowest forms of animal 

 life that show colouring to any definite extent, we have, in 

 the same localities, under the same conditions, growing side 

 by side, and often intermingling and intertwining, some 

 that are bright green, others that are orange or crimson, 

 to say nothing of less marked colours purple, buff, white. 



Now it has been accepted as an axiom that every marked 

 and constant colour must be of service to the possessor, 

 and this has been brought under four headings viz. 



When an animal is defenceless, and is good to eat, in a 

 district where eaters are present it imitates the colour of its 

 surroundings, and thus manages to escape observation to 

 some degree. 



The second is when an animal is not good to eat, has 

 a nasty taste, or is armed, and consequently dangerous 

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