Masterpieces of Science 



There is a general harmony in nature between 

 the colours of an animal and those of its habita- 

 tion. Arctic animals are white, desert animals 

 are sand-coloured; dwellers among leaves and 

 grass are green; nocturnal animals are dusky. 

 These colours are not universal, but are very 

 general, and are seldom reversed. Going on a 

 little further, we rind birds, reptiles and in- 

 sects, so tinted and mottled as exactly to match 

 the rock, or bark, or leaf, or flower they are 

 accustomed to rest upon — and thereby effectually 

 concealed. Another step in advance, and we 

 have insects which are formed as well as coloured 

 so as exactly to resemble particular leaves, or 

 sticks, or mossy twigs, or flowers; and in these 

 cases very peculiar habits and instincts come 

 into play to aid in the deception and render 

 the concealment more complete. We now enter 

 upon a new phase of the phenomena, and come 

 to creatures whose colours neither conceal 

 them nor make them like vegetable or mineral 

 substances; on the contrary, they are con- 

 spicuous enough, but they completely resemble 

 some other creature of a quite different group, 

 while they differ much in outward appearance 

 from those with which all essential parts of 

 their organization show them to be really 

 closely allied. They appear like actors or mas- 

 queraders dressed up and painted for amuse- 

 ment, or like swindlers endeavouring to pass 

 themselves off for well-known and respectable 

 members of society. What is the meaning of 

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