74 CHILDHOOD OF ANIMALS 



armed or nauseous creatures inhabiting the same district were not 

 only conspicuously coloured, but resembled one another in the kind 

 of coloration. Obviously, in mimicry of this kind, there would be 

 very great economy, as each species of the group forming the 

 community of similarly coloured creatures would profit by the 

 lessons learned by tasting experiments made on individuals of any 

 of the species. Thus the experimental death-rate, the toll paid by 

 the whole community, would fall less heavily than if it were limited! 

 to a single species ; whilst the local enemies would have to learn to 

 avoid only one pattern instead of many patterns. 



The theory of warning coloration and the associated theories of 

 mimicry have been attacked partly on the ground that there is 

 not enough experimental evidence to justify them, and partly on 

 the ground that the pattern and colour can be explained otherwise. 

 On the whole there seems to be enough experimental evidence to 

 justify the conclusion that there is a frequent association between 

 conspicuous coloration and unpleasant qualities on the part of 

 the models. It is, however, another matter to assume that the 

 coloration of the models or mimics has come into existence because 

 of its utility. The colours and patterns may be the natural out- 

 crop of the constitutions and modes of growth of tjie creatures in 

 which they are found ; and if this be so, if in fact they belong to 

 what I have described as the lowest grade of ornamentation, it is 

 not surprising that they should occur in closely similar forms in 

 closely allied species. The recent experiments in breeding conducted 

 by naturalists who have been working on the lines suggested by 

 Mendel would seem to show that even very elaborate coloration 

 and extremely intricate patterns are produced inevitably in the 

 laboratory of the living organism. If this be so, the path is made 

 easier, and not more difficult, as some of Mendel's disciples appear 

 to think, for those who wish to interpret colour and pattern in 

 terms of utility. It would no longer be necessary to try to imagine 

 an increasing utility with each small elaboration of pattern. The 

 coloration would be produced, so to speak, ready made, and would 

 be retained if it were useful, or perish with its owner if it were harmful. 



There is no quality more generally useful to an animal than that of 

 being inconspicuous. The living world is a very serious game of hide- 

 and-seek, in which nearly every adult animal and those young ones 

 that are not hidden or protected by their parent must join. The 

 penalties are severe ; those that are caught are eaten, and those that 

 fail to catch starve. Animals may hunt their prey by scent, but 



