WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



branch upon which they live, that it requires very close 

 inspection to detect them. In butterflies and moths 

 especially, the colour and form is so frequent a resem- 

 blance to the object upon which they rest, that only 

 expert and trained eyes can see them ; persons unaccus- 

 tomed to their appearance and remarkable mode of con- 

 cealment are unable frequently to see them even when 

 pointed out by the practised and skilful collector. 



Large crocodiles and alligators lying on the banks of 

 rivers look like fallen trees on the rough surface of the 

 muddy bank ; the chameleon and other reptiles have the 

 power of assuming the colour of the branches and leaves 

 upon which they rest, and thus escape notice. Many 

 creatures select for hiding-places such as assimilate to 

 their own colours, and with watchful eyes remain quiet, 

 and thus remain unobserved. The striped tiger in the 

 reedy jungle is not easily seen through the dead and dry 

 reeds and long grass, the dark stems of which singularly 

 hide and mingle with the dark stripes of the animal ; as 

 difficult also is it to see the lion upon the sandy rocky 

 ground, which it resembles in colour, as much as the 

 ptarmigan in its white winter dress resembles the snow- 

 clad mountain where it hides. All sportsmen know how 

 slight a hollow in the ground, or how small a bunch of 

 weed or twig, will serve to screen from sight a hare or 

 other animal. The skill or cunning, as it is called, 

 employed to escape detection by many animals would 

 afford an inexhaustible subject. A bird of dark colour 

 will stand in the shadow of a tree or other object, or squat 

 upon the ground by a clump of earth less than itself, and 

 yet appear to be part of it. 



All these are striking instances of the means of escape 

 from foes, or to enable the creatures to live ; for the re- 

 markable part of these deceptions (if they may be so called) 



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