Concealing and revealing coloration and their relation to natural selection
Subject(s): Animals--Color, Natural history, Protective coloration (Biology)
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Handwritten draft of Chapter 4 of Life Histories of African Game Animals. Theodore Roosevelt argues that followers of Charles Darwin have done a disservice to the theory of evolution by asserting the over-arching importance of natural selection in bringing about the evolution of species. The coloration of animals is one phenomenon often used to illustrate the importance of natural selection – i.e. the animals’ color traits (striped, dark, light) help to conceal it from its predators and therefore enable it to survive. Roosevelt details his observations of African game animals to contest such theories, concluding that natural selection has played a minor part in developing the coloration of these animals.
Collection
Creation Date
1910
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
African Safari (March 1909-1910)
Repository
Harvard College Library
Page Count
70
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
Electronic copy sponsored by the Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University. For reproduction or publication permission, contact the Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Houghton Library. See the Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library Terms of Use for further copyright information.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Concealing and revealing coloration and their relation to natural selection. [January 22, 2026]. Harvard College Library.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286452. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Concealing and revealing coloration and their relation to natural selection. [22 Jan. 2026]. Multi-image.
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 22, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286452.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [2026, January 22]. Concealing and revealing coloration and their relation to natural selection.
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286452.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Harvard College Library. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 22, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library.
APA:
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library.
