. Animal coloration; an account of the principal facts and theories relating to the colours and markings of animals. Color of animals. INTRODUCTORY. 5 Many of these pigments appear to have no special use in the animal economy, except in so far as they may be utilised iu order to produce a protective resemblance to the surroundingsr and in other ways treated of in the succeeding chapters. They are often merely waste products which are temporarily stored up in the skin (see p. 1^6). On the other hand, there are certain coloured substances which have been proved to have a functional importance. C
. Animal coloration; an account of the principal facts and theories relating to the colours and markings of animals. Color of animals. INTRODUCTORY. 5 Many of these pigments appear to have no special use in the animal economy, except in so far as they may be utilised iu order to produce a protective resemblance to the surroundingsr and in other ways treated of in the succeeding chapters. They are often merely waste products which are temporarily stored up in the skin (see p. 1^6). On the other hand, there are certain coloured substances which have been proved to have a functional importance. Colours associated with Substances of Physiological Importance to the Animal. Some animals owe their colour to substances embedded in the skin, or existing in the tissues beneath, which play an important part in the processes of respiration, digestion, and in other physiological functions. The coloration of such animals may be advantageous or disadvantageous as a means of con- cealment ; if disadvantageous, we must assume that the direct advantages of the processes accompanying life which the coloured substances give outweigh the disadvantages in ren- dering the animal conspicuous, etc. If they happen to be advantageous in the latter way, it must be looked upon as a fortunate accident. The substances themselves which give the colour cannot probably be changed without destroying or altering their useful physiological purposes ; nor, in some cases at least, can they be concealed without rendering them useless for their particular purpose. Haemoglobin. For example, most rivers and lakes abound with minute worms of half an inch to two inches or so in length, which are frequently of a bright red colour. These worms belong to several genera of the Oligochoeta—a group which also i the common Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not p
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