POSTSCRIPT . . 131 



That, is from \}as primitive markings of Professor Eiraer's-theory, Quite' go,- 

 but, as I have shown, it is not so incredible that both the coloration of> 

 the Giraffe and of the Zebra, as well a^ those of the dappled Horse and 

 of the Zebu, should have been evolved . from, in my opinion, the oldest 



coloration of all, viz., the rosettes, similar to those of the Jaguar. 



Mr. LydekkerJn conclusion says that.it is not improbable that there 

 may be a certain substratum of truth' in Professor Elmer's theory. 



' What we may call the " longitudinal-spotted-transverse-uniform " theory of 

 coloration, we submit that in its present guise it cannot adequately explain the 

 whole evolution of " spots and stripes in mammals." ' 



Mr. Lydekker's paper on this subject in jS'wzy/^i^r is. very well wbrth- 

 the attention of students of the coloration of mammals. It is, moreover,- 

 accompanied by the most beatitifjul lUustrationiof the SnowsLeopard that 

 I have yet seen. i 



-Now,, may I be allowed 1^0 put forth in concluding this P.S. my 

 theory: of the whole question,; as succinctly as I -can-^^as Carlyle might 

 have said, — the theory of.a poor Isimplerreature? - - 



The Glyptodonts, or other armoured mammals of a similar nature, 

 were the originals from which all existing mammals, including marsupials,- 

 descended. 



The Jaguar, for some reason or other, has retained the most primitive 

 type of coloration, due to the characters of the ancestral armour-//a/w — 

 a sort oi piduration of the carapace,, after this had been wholly got rid of. 

 - All other spotted: mammals — whether longitudinally, or transversely, 

 or ai^igonally-J^are modifications -oi those of the Jalgiiar.. 



Then the stiripes — whether longitudinal, transverse, or diagonal — are 

 fusions of lines of spots or of rosettes. This seems 'cleat>from the spotting 

 of certain Cheetahs,^ cfertain Horses, andxertain Tigers with twin-stripes. 



The markings of fhe Ocelots, Glouded Leopards, and Marbled Cats 

 are a fusion atid modification of groiips of rosettes, either longitudinally 

 disposed, or grouped ifi irregular. patches. 



Thglpiebalding of the Dog' seems to be made up of fusions and 

 agglortterations of spots, as may ibe seen in certain Dalmatian and othei' 

 Dogs. 



Then in the self-coloured mammals, it is evident there is, for some 

 reason, a total obliteration of all special marking, although they now and 



