LIVERIES AND THEIR MEANING 63 



mountain hare and this accordingly turns white ; and thus the 

 stoat has to effect a similar change, only the tip of the tail retaining 

 its normal black colour. In Ireland, where this hare also occurs, 

 no such change in these animals takes place because snow rarely 

 falls, and still more rarely remains long. 



In yet more northern regions of Europe this same 

 species of hare is found, and here the fox (which is of a 

 different species to the British fox) as well as the stoat, turns 

 white. 



Even more remarkable perhaps is the coloration of that 

 strange animal known as the skunk ; a creature which occurs 

 both in North and South America. This beast one of the carniv- 

 orous animals is most conspicuously marked with black and 

 white, and, what is more, instead of endeavouring to conceal 

 itself, it walks abroad with the greatest ostentation. But woe 

 betide the man or beast which approaches it too nearly, for 

 without the slightest warning it ejects a liquid spray of the most 

 offensive and overpowering description ; so much so that no 

 assailant would dare to repeat an attempt at hostilities. Colora- 

 tion of this kind is known as " warning coloration/' and is 

 far more effectual than an armature of teeth or claws would 

 be, for no danger of personal conflict is run with its possible 

 danger of personal damage. Now and again, of course, a skunk is 

 killed by the sudden rush of some inexperienced animal, such as 

 a dog or wolf, but the inevitable spray of this vile scent would 

 effectually deter the victim from ever again repeating the experi- 

 ment, however many opportunities it might have ! And thereby, 

 though one individual lost its life, all others of this species would 

 escape attack from this particular animal. 



But besides stripes and patches of colour, spots play an equally 

 important part in the coloration of animals. The spots of the 

 leopard and jaguar, for instance, enable these creatures to find 

 perfect concealment amid the jungles in which they live; the 

 light spots blending with the surrounding spots of sunlight which 

 penetrate the foliage of the forest, thereby rendering the bulky 

 bodies of these animals practically invisible, so that their prey 

 approaches to within striking distance before suspecting danger. 

 Many deer are also spotted, and it is to be noted that in deer so 



