PART IV 





FURTHER EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE THEORY THAT 

 EXISTING MAMMALS DESCENDED FROM CARAPACED 



ANCESTORS 



THERE is yet another important feature in the coloration of animals 

 which, if I have rightly interpreted it, will further support the 

 theory I have been advocating in the foregoing pages viz., that 

 the markings of Leopards, Horses, Zebus, Giraffes, etc., etc., are 

 due to the plate-armour of remote ancestors. 



In these pages, however, I shall deal with mammals which may 

 have no vestige of ancestral resetting, but only a great contrast of 

 surface coloration. 



It has been maintained by some that the backs of certain 

 animals are darker than their abdominal surfaces, because their 

 backs are more exposed to light. 



I do not know whether this is true of all fishes. Recent experi- 

 ments would tend to show that light, as an electric agent, has some- 

 thing to do with the darkening of the skin of fishes. 



I do know, however, that this is not true of many mammals. A 

 few examples will clear this misconception. 



The family of the Badgers and allied species affords a number 

 of examples of black under parts, and either white or light-coloured 

 upper parts ; and most of these are nocturnal animals, so that we 

 cannot consider their contrasts of coloration as having had much to 

 do with a natural selection origin, by way of warning colours. 







