CHAPTER VIII 



LIVERIES AND THEIR MEANING : THE COLORATION OF ADULT 



MAMMALS 



THAT the coloration of mammals in a wild state plays an im- 

 portant part in their life-history, is a fact by no means generally 

 realised. But illustrations of this are to be found even among 

 species commonly to be met with in Great Britain. As might be 

 expected, of course, this coloration is of less importance in some 

 cases than others. 



No better object lesson of the way in which closely related 

 animals, and even animals of the same species, may differ in 

 this matter of the coloration of their coats, is to be found than 

 in the common domesticated cat. But before proceeding to 

 illustrate this, it should be remarked that between coloration and 

 colour there is a distinct difference. For by coloration is meant the 

 general effect of contrasted colours when present; the effect 

 produced by the pattern of the coat. 



The cat, to which reference has just been made, admirably 

 illustrates this difference in pattern, which applies both to races of 

 the same species, as well as to different, though closely related 

 species. 



All the various breeds, or races, of the domesticated cat are 

 probably descendants of a common wild species, though in this 

 point authorities are not quite agreed. Now of these breeds, the 

 best known, because the commonest, is that generally described 

 as the " tabby/' Herein the general ground colour of the coat is 

 grey, relieved by more or less continuous transverse bars of 

 black. But, besides this, cats may frequently be met with 

 wherein the dark markings have a quite different arrangement. 

 Without minutely describing this pattern, let it be sufficient to 

 remark that in this type the irregular transverse bars, or vertical 

 bars, along the sides of the animal, are replaced by an oblong 



