CONSPICUOUS COLOUR 35 



It appears, therefore, that Thayer's theory, 

 that all animals are protectively coloured, does 

 not correctly describe the facts. An artist's 

 eye will note, or his hand be able to depict, 

 the most brilliant animals among surround- 

 ings which render them inconspicuous ; but 

 if the animals are rarely found among these 

 surroundings, then such observations and such 

 illustrations appertain to exceptions and not 

 to the rule, and thereby hide the truth. 



Certain broad conclusions may now be 

 made : 



1. Animals which are coloured with the 

 primary colours and with black and white, 

 and on which these colours are laid down in 

 large and distinct areas, MAY or may NOT 

 present conspicuous colouring : a close study 

 of their habits and surroundings can alone 

 decide how they must be classed. 



2. Animals which are coloured with the 

 secondary colours, or with the primary colours 

 much broken into small masses, one into 

 the other, are almost invariably protectively 

 coloured. But in these also, habits must be 

 taken into account. One is now in a position 

 to classify colour ; as before mentioned, it 

 must first be divided into Purposely Con- 

 spicuous and Purposely Inconspicuous. These 



