x STUDIES IN THE EVOLUTION OF ANIMALS 



whether as a completely dappled surface, or as vestiges of an 

 extensively spotted skin. Spotting and striping in mammals, or 

 vestiges of such markings, are to be met with so extensively among 

 these animals, that I came to the conclusion they must have a 

 deeper meaning than may have hitherto been attributed to them 

 by evolutionists. 



The reader should understand that a book like this is not written 

 as a poem might be written, by sitting down in some suggestive 

 surrounding, gazing into space, and letting the thoughts come 

 rambling after each other, as if by inspiration. 



Not a few perhaps may think that the author just sat down and 

 wrote it off! Few would consider what interminable searching for 

 authorities was needed ; what hunting for facts and evidence to 

 build upon ; what hunting for suitable skins and animals to be 

 photographed, and for photographs of animals to be used as 

 illustrations, were required. Nowadays, one might as well speak 

 to the wind as produce a book of this sort without numerous 

 illustrations. The value of an illustration is that it appeals to the 

 mind at once, while a string of words used in a description, without 

 an illustration, would only, in most cases, fatigue the reader's mind, 

 and leave little or no impression. Everything must be made as easy 

 as possible for the student and general reader, otherwise he or she 

 will turn to something else. There is too much to distract the 

 attention from making a serious effort to comprehend even a small 

 portion of the work of creation. Moreover, this is the age of maga- 

 zines, which mean a conglomerate, and most people prefer that. 



The arrangement of notes taken at all sorts of odd times 

 and places ; the digesting and comparing of points, writing out 



