Animal coloration : an account of the principal facts and theories relating to the colours and markings of animals / by Frank E. Beddard.

  • Beddard Frank E. (Frank Evers), 1858-1925.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Animal coloration : an account of the principal facts and theories relating to the colours and markings of animals / by Frank E. Beddard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    intermediate stages arc fouud. This view is not the one generally accepted. It is, however, certain that this animal does not invariably undergo a seasonal colour change ; and there is a highly interesting connection between the capa- bility of undergoing this change, and the habitat of the individual. In its extreme northerly habitat, the Arctic fox almost always, if not always, changes its bluish brown summer dress for a pure white in the winter. The aspect of the animal in the summer and winter dress may be gathered from the woodcut on opposite page, and specimens may be usually seen at the Zoological Gardens. In Iceland, which is the most southerly area of the animal's range, a change to white is the exception.* The Alpine hare illustrates the same principle : in Scandi- navia it always. becomes white in the winter; in Scotland this change generally occurs, but seldom in Ireland. So, too, the stoat: it always becomes white in the Alpine districts of Fig. 2.—Ermine, * Proc. Zool. Son., 1869, p. 228.