126 STUDIES IN THE EVOLUTION OF ANIMALS 



on evolving indepetidently of the coloration of the skin, and that 

 may be the reason why we find almost identical coloration or 

 markings in mammals, with vast modifications in their endo- 

 skeleton. 



What were at one time solid plates with holes or knobs, became 

 later on expressed in simple pigments of different colours to the 

 great advantage of the losers of such a stiff and unmanageable 

 encumbrance. 



If it be true that the rosetting of the Jaguar and Leopard origin- 

 ated as I have stated in the foregoing pages, the same theory will 

 account for the markings of Horses and other mammals, including 

 ruminants and more especially Oxen, as testified by the rosette 

 markings of the Zebu (Fig. 58). 



POSTSCRIPT 



While this book was passing through the press, I read in Knowledge of 

 January 1895 a paper by Mr. R. Lydekker on the ' Spots and Stripes in 

 Mammals,' wherein he gives Professor Eimer's and his own views of the 

 origin of mammal coloration, as he does not seem to agree with Pro- 

 fessor Eimer. 



I am sorry to disagree with two great authorities on these matters, but 

 Thomas Carlyle's teaching was this — say what you think, even if you are 

 gibbeted for it. 



I cannot make this subject intelligible to the reader without giving 

 extracts of some length from Mr. Lydekker's paper ; and perhaps it will 

 be better if I take certain points of his paper one after the other, and try 

 to discuss them, as the questions are exceptionally interesting. 



On p. 3 he says : — 



'These markings generally take the form either of longitudinal or trans- 

 verse bands or spots, the latter being frequently arranged in more or less 

 distinctly defined longitudinal lines, but " never " in transverse bands.' 



