230 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHANGES OF 



a suit of white. The absurdity of this exposition is too apparent to be 

 further exposed." 



This examination, and the arguments which have been drawn from 

 it by so able a naturalist as Dr Flemming, would appear, at first sight, 

 to be conclusive. But, on a closer investigation of the subject, and a 

 more careful inquiry into the operations of nature, doubts wmII arise, 

 both as to the accuracy of his investigations and the soundness of his 

 theory. The Doctor's observations were made, it will be recollected, 

 on the 9th of May, the very period when the Ermine is shedding its 

 winter fur. A sensible writer, in Rees's Cyclopoedia, on the article 

 Hair, makes the following remarks. "As the pulp is intended for the 

 nutrition of the hair, it is found to extend only to that portion of the 

 hair which is in a state of growth ; and in those which are deciduous, 

 or are cast at particular seasons of the year, such as the hairs covering 

 the bodies of quadrupeds, the pulp becomes entirely obliterated, before 

 the period of shedding the hair, and its root is converted into a solid 

 pointed mass." If, then, the change, as Dr Flemming contends, had 

 taken place in the old hair, so much in opposition to the views of the 

 writer above quoted, what must have been the process ? In the sum- 

 mer, after it had cast its old hair, it must have acquired a coat of w'ax 

 yellow, which, in process of time, changed to yellowish brown ; then in 

 autumn, this same hair would have turned white : now comes the spring, 

 and even in this advanced age of the hair, it once more turns yellow, 

 and then yellowish brown. No harlequin assumes greater changes; 

 and it may be inquired whether the Doctor's theory is not even more 

 absurd than that which he assails with such apparently strong facts and 

 powerful arguments. 



It has, however, appeared to me, that the changes in colour to which 

 the Ermine is subject, have not been closely observed, or accurately 

 described. Admitting that this quadruped sheds its hair in spring and 

 autumn, which I hope to prove is the fact, it will be discovered that in 

 this respect the change is not more remarkable than that produced on 

 several other species of quadrupeds, and on many birds ; among the 

 latter, as instances, w^e may mention the Yellow Crowned Warbler, 

 Rice Bird and American Goldfinch. 



At an early period of life I had an opportunity of witnessing the 



