PROTECTIVE COLOURING IN ANIMALS 313 



athletic individuals would severely avoid it ; in fact, retire 

 from it in alarm. But actually, the burglar's mask as 

 possibly some noxious insects' distinctive markings was 

 not invented for the purpose of causing alarm. Far from 

 it ! The burglar, or nocturnal malefactor, dons his crepe 

 mask in order to cover the white glitter of his face, and so 

 to escape observation. In origin it is a protective color- 

 ation leading to invisibility, and only secondarily has it 

 become a " warning colour " or " mark " at close quarters. 

 There will be much more ascertained, and much in- 

 structive discussion as to the colours and markings of not 

 only animals, but also of flowers and foliage, before this 

 wonderful subject is thrashed out. I have only been able 

 here to indicate its outlines. 



