310 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



his whole theory as to the Origin of Species 

 if, towards the close of his life, he had come 

 across evidence that showed that it was not well 

 founded. 



In concluding, I will endeavour once more to 

 illustrate the methods which I am recommending 

 to young naturalists by making use of them in 

 order to solve a riddle which has doubtless 

 occurred to many of my readers. 



Why are many creatures which have every 

 reason for avoiding notice often marked so con- 

 spicuously as to be visible to every eye ? 



This problem had been occupying my thoughts 

 a good deal several years ago, when I chanced 

 to take a walk through Greenwich Park. The 

 dappled fallow - deer were grazing among the 

 chestnut-trees or lying down upon the soft grass. 

 I sat down on a seat to watch them, determined 

 if possible to learn something fresh from them 

 before I moved from the spot. One could not 

 help noticing how remarkably their mottled skins, 

 angular outlines, and branching horns fitted them 

 for concealment in the glades of a forest. Even 

 here, where the surroundings were to a large 

 extent artificial, every now and then the eye 

 would suddenly chance upon a deer restino- 



