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Theodore Roosevelt argues against some of Abbott Handerson Thayer’s conclusions regarding the protective coloration of animals. Roosevelt believes that Thayer pushed his theory to extremes and he would like a competent scientist to conduct a serious study of coloration.
1911-02-02
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.
1910
Theodore Roosevelt writes Thomas Barbour, the curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, to complain about Allen’s attack on Roosevelt’s article about animal coloration. He may be referring to Barbour’s colleague Glover M. Allen. He defends his article and also cites Abbott Handerson Thayer’s work. Roosevelt feels The Auk should be ashamed of publishing Allen’s piece and tells Barbour to show this letter to any ornithologists he wishes. He wants Barbour to come to Oyster Bay so they can do experiments with black and white cloths.
1912-12-03
Theodore Roosevelt asks ornithologist William Brewster to send him a copy of The Birds of the Cambridge Region. He is pleased at what Brewster said about his African Game Trails. Roosevelt has been so busy the past few years he has not been able to focus on natural history but now he is free and working on a pamphlet about bird and mammal coloration. He criticizes Abbott Handerson Thayer’s book and invites Brewster to lunch.
1911-05-08