ISO THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 



one model in direct proportion to the amount of shadow and 

 sufficient to the back to give it the general color pattern of the 

 background. The result as shown is that the "counter shaded" 

 model is almost invisible and one must put a white sheet of paper 

 behind it in order to see it. It is interesting to note that the 

 model when complete was the almost exact duplicate of the red- 

 backed sandpiper in fall plumage. If the counter-shaded model 

 is turned upside down so that the white belly receive the most 

 light, it becomes even more conspicuous than the uniformly 

 colored one. 



Study in Counter Shading. Models made by 

 Louis Agassiz Fuertes; photographed by 

 H. D. Reed. (1906) Nu ZC2 



(1) Models right side up, normal background 



The counter shaded model is just behind the uniformly colored 

 one, but is almost invisible. 



(2) Models right side up, white cardboard underneath 



Note how the counter shaded model on right becomes con- 

 spicuous when light comes from other direction than above. 



(3) Models with partial white background 



Showing that it is necessary for the color pattern of the counter 

 shaded model to be similar to the background to become invis- 

 ible ; also how the solidity of the counter shaded model is appar- 

 ently destroyed and made to appear perfectly flat even against 

 the white background. 



(4) Models upside down with normal background 

 Showing how counter shaded model becomes more conspicuous 



than the uniformly colored one when in this position. 



Pectoral sandpiper walking on shore Nu SP 



Least sandpiper at water's edge Nu SL 



Semipalmated sandpiper wading Nu SR 



b Color patterns- — usually plus counter shading 



Counter shading alone not being sufficient entirely to oblit- 

 erate the appearance of the bird, the color of it must match its 

 background. And so we find in nature that the field birds are 

 streaked like the lights and shadows between the grasses, many 

 of the marsh birds are striped, the terrestrial woodland birds are 

 more or less mottled, etc. 



