Masterpieces of Science 



white rabbits. Some of these animals have 

 been domesticated for a long period, others 

 only for a few centuries; but in almost every 

 case in which an animal has been thoroughly 

 domesticated, parti-coloured and white varieties 

 are produced and become permanent. 



It is also well known that animals in a state 

 of nature produce white varieties occasionally. 

 Blackbirds, starlings, and crows are occasionally 

 seen white, as well as elephants, deer, tigers, 

 hares, moles, and many other animals; but in 

 no case is a permanent white race produced. 

 Now there are no statistics to show that the 

 normal-coloured parents produce white off- 

 spring oftener under domestication than in a 

 state of nature, and we have no right to make 

 such an assumption if the facts can be accounted 

 for without it. But if the colours of animals 

 do really, in the various instances already 

 adduced, serve for their concealment and pre- 

 servation, then white or any other conspicu- 

 ous colour must be hurtful, and must in most 

 cases shorten an animal's life. A white rabbit 

 would be more surely the prey of hawk or 

 buzzard, and the white mole, or field mouse, 

 could not long escape from the vigilant owl. 

 So, also, any deviation from those tints best 

 adapted to conceal a carnivorous animal would 

 render the pursuit of its prey much more diffi- 

 cult, would place it at a disadvantage among 

 its fellows and in a time of scarcity would 

 probably cause it to starve to death. On the 



