14 MOSTLY MAMMALS 
seems probable, as has been suggested by Mr. R. I. 
Pocock in an article published a couple of years ago in 
Nature, that the white markings belong to two different 
categories so far as their purpose is concerned. In many 
of such animals not only is the under-surface of the body 
white, but there are several white gorgets on the throat 
and white spots on the side of the face and chin. Now 
there can be little doubt that such white areas are for the 
purpose of counteracting the dark shade thrown by the 
body, and thus rendering the animal much less conspicuous 
when seen at a distance than would otherwise be the case. 
That this is the true explanation is rendered practically 
certain by the circumstance that such white markings, 
especially the gorgets on the throat, persist in species 
which, like the Indian nilgai and the American prongbuck, 
have lost the ancestral stripes and spots. In neither of 
the two species referred to, it may be well to observe, are 
the young spotted or striped, and it is therefore only 
from analogy that we speak of their ancestors being thus 
coloured ; but the nilgai is so closely related to the bush- 
bucks and kudus that there can be little doubt that the 
assertion is justifiable. Even, however, if it were not so, 
the case as regards the purport of the white gorgets and 
under-parts remains unaltered. It may be added that such 
white patches can only be effectual where there is plenty 
of light to throw the shadow ; and this is in accordance 
with the fact that kudu and chital inhabit less dense 
forest than sambar. 
Having indicated, then, the special purpose of the white 
under-parts and throat-markings of deer and antelopes, 
we may consider the object of the stripes and spots char- 
acteristic of certain species and groups. All the bushbucks, 
save the males of one or two species, together with their 
