THE 
AMERICAN NATURALIST 
VoL, XXXL - « February, 1897. 362 
NOCTURNAL PROTECTIVE COLORATION OF MAM- 
MALS, BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS, ETC. 
By A. E VERRILL.! 
Although much has been written regarding the protective 
and imitative colors and forms of various animals, as seen by 
daylight, very little attention has been paid to their protective 
colors as seen by moonlight, twilight, and starlight, when large 
numbers of species of small mammals and fishes, and numer- 
ous insects are most active in search of food and most of the 
large carnivorous and insectivorous species are abroad in 
search of their prey. Moreover most birds and many fishes 
and insects sleep in exposed situations and are thus subject to 
the attacks of nocturnal predaceous species. The latter, in 
turn, need protective colors for the night-time, in order to avoid 
the notice of their prey. One of the most evident effects of 
moonlight or starlight is to give very black shadows. In the 
case of bright moonlight these black shadows of trees, etc., 
may be broken up by patches of white moonlight. Therefore, 
black or dark-brown animals are nearly invisible in such 
shadows. If black animals have patches of white or light 
yellow these will serve a useful purpose by breaking up and 
obscuring the outlines of bird or beast and look like patches 
of moonlight on a shadow. 7 
oor of a paper read before the Morphological Society. Dec. 30, 1896.) 
