CHAPTER III 



CONSPICUOUS COLOUR 



IT is not possible to conceive that the colour 

 of an animal, in Nature, is purposeless, indif- 

 ferent, the result of chance. The colour of 

 domesticated animals may be conceived to be 

 of such a nature, but if one believes in the 

 Origin of Species as expounded by Charles 

 Darwin, then the colour of animals in Nature 

 must be looked upon as purposeful ; and it 

 can have but two uses : (1) to make an animal 

 inconspicuous, (2) to make it conspicuous. 

 This it can only do by contrast ; to consider the 

 colour of an animal per se must be meaning- 

 less ; only the comparison of its colour with 

 that of its surroundings can be of any value. 

 Therefore when considering the colour of 

 animals, at least three factors must be taken 

 into account : (1) the colour of the animal, 

 (2) the colour of its environments, and (3) the 

 animal's habits. Without a knowledge of its 

 habits, it is impossible to decide whether an 



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