130 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
BULLETIN 
WHITE RHEA 
the handicap of attraction is too severe to per- 
mit maturity in but few instances. 
It is probable that among certain groups the 
tendency towards albinism is more frequent than 
ordinarily is surmised. This would particular- 
ly be the case with the smaller types, subject 
to the attacks of enemies. Many of 
the smaller, defenseless animals rely for pro- 
tection upon a strong similarity to the ground, 
or to leaves. Imagine the plight of an albino 
quail, or a white woodeock! A normal speci- 
men needs but to snuggle among dry leaves, re- 
main motionless and an enemy might pass a 
yard away and not detect it. Eliminate the 
dull color of many of the smaller mammals, 
birds, reptiles or amphibians and they form 
objects that instantly attract attention, from 
friends and enemies alike. This condition prob- 
ably spells the doom of the greater number of 
albinos before they attain maturity. As an in- 
stance of this condition the writer cites the rec- 
ord of an albino bat, observed during the past 
summer. 
various 
This animal was noted flying in com- 
pany with a number of others of normal color- 
ation, in a clearing close to a farm house, where 
a bat colony appeared to make permanent abode. 
It was first noted when young, soon after leay- 
ing the mother. For several weeks this pure 
white and striking object flitted in circles about 
a stable enclosure, and then suddenly disap- 
peared. Its vivid form, both in flight, or hang- 
ing head downward by day, formed an irresist- 
ible target for hawks, owls and weasels. 
In the scientific breeding of albinos there 
have been marked disputes, and in some in- 
stances results quite contrary to theory. Per- 
fect albino strains of the fallow and the red 
deer have been produced in Europe. Albino 
peacocks are constantly bred. Both deer and 
peacocks steadily breed true to the white color 
of their parents. Various records show us, how- 
ever, that among the first progenies of pairs of 
albinos from normal parents, ““throw-backs”’ in 
the third generation occasionally result of prac- 
tically normal coloration, and hence in posses- 
Of course, partially al- 
Usually, however, al- 
binos breed true, and invariably so after several 
sion of color pigment. 
binistie progeny occur. 
generations. 
Among the larger wild animals the occurrence 
of albinos is so rare that the meeting of 
albino pairs is an event of almost infinite 
