The Making of Species 
fully diversified colours of animals—the stripes 
of the zebra, the blotched coat of the giraffe, the 
spots of the bushbuck, the white face and the 
rump of the bontebok, to mention only a few— 
have been coloured either as means of pro- 
tection from enemies or for the purpose of 
mutual recognition by animals of the same 
species in times of sudden alarm.” 
So also G. A. B. Dewar—a very close 
observer of nature in England—writes, in The 
Faery Year: “Few theories in natural history 
have received more attention of late years than 
protective or aggressive colour, ‘mimicry,’ and 
harmony with environment. . . . To doubt this 
use of colour to animals seems like inviting back 
chaos in place of cosmos—for abandon the theory, 
and a world of colour is straightway void of pur- 
pose, a muddle of chance. So we all like the 
theory. Some, however, perceive plans to aid 
the wearer in every colour, tint, shade, and 
pattern. We may be sceptical of a good many 
of the cases they cite in support of colour aid, 
though attracted by the main idea.” 
Writing of the commoner British butterflies, 
he says: “After a little practice, any man 
furnished with good eyesight can easily dis- 
tinguish these butterflies—blues, coppers, small 
heaths, and meadow browns—from their perches; 
and so we may be sure that the small beast, bird, 
or insect of prey, with sense of colour or form, 
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