278 FAMILIAR LIFE IN FIELD AND FOREST. 



darker fur is simply a phase or variation of the ani- 

 mal's more common condition in life — tliis dark 

 color, in fact, is simply a case of melanism. 



It is very important in the study of wild life that 

 we should recognize the exact relationship of the ani- 

 mals, just as it is of like importance that we should 

 know the affinities of plants. Without this knowl- 

 edge one studies Nature at an immense disadvantage. 

 It is a good beginning, for instance, to learn that we 

 have really but two species of the fox in this country, 

 and that there is an affinity between the little sundew 

 plant and the larger pitcher plant. At present, even 

 the botanists do not fully recognize the relationship 

 between these two insect-catching characters of the 

 vegetable world ; but they will surely do so some 

 time in the future. 



As for the animal world, naturalists have not yet 

 done with it, or at least with that part of it which is 

 on this side of the Atlantic, Our black squirrel and 

 gray squirrel are one species ; our weasels are none of 

 them the ermine ; our black bear and cinnamon bear 

 are two of a kind — Ursus americanus — and our 

 Northern and Southern green snakes are unrelated 

 excepting in color. 



To tell the truth, naturalists are still busily "sort- 

 ing things out," and several of them say that they 

 have not yet nearly finished ; but I have given the 



