SPOTTED AND STRIPED MAMMALS 19 



it has fusions of the ring-spots into bigger spots or blotches, with 

 a deeper shade of fawn colour between them than the general fawn 

 colour. I have endeavoured to show this in No. 9, Fig. 59. 



Moreover, some Leopards, such as that of Fig. 6, have large 

 solid rosettes of irregular shape on their haunches, while those on 

 their flanks are ocellated. 



This, I think, is clear evidence that, in these cases at least, the 

 haunch rosettes are mere contractions of the larger typical rosettes 

 on the flanks. 



A glance at the Jaguar skin of Fig. 2 also shows distinctly that 

 the enclosed spaces of the rosettes are of a deeper shade than the 

 general colour between the rosettes. I mention these details 

 because in these Mammals there appear to be three distinct 

 colorations, viz., the colour of the inter-rosette spaces, of the rings, 

 and of the enclosed space. All three may vary independently of 

 the others, not only in colour, but also in form. 



The different colours of the inter-rosette spaces, of the spots, 

 and of the enclosed spaces, would seem to indicate that each has 

 a separate' and distinct nerve-centre, as much localised as the 

 centres of the different parts of the arm, the leg, the face, etc., 

 and that each of these components of the whole surface may vary 

 independently of the others. It seems curious that the spots of 

 the Dalmatian Dog should be black on a white ground, and those 

 of the Phalanger and Dasyure white on a black ground. 



The general coloration of Mammals seems of little importance, 

 as it varies in almost every individual ; what is tan in one may 

 be either black or white in another. But the ' markings ' and 

 the colorations, which are seen to be like a sort of ' plan,' are of 

 much greater importance, as they more or less indicate, I think, 

 something inherited from very remote ancestors. 



Let us now take a look at a very differently spotted Mammal. 



