| 释义 |
melanism|ˈmɛlənɪz(ə)m|
[f. Gr. µελαν-, µέλας black + -ism.]
1. Darkness of colour resulting from an abnormal (but not morbid) development of black pigment in the epidermis or other external appendages (hair, feathers, etc.) of animals; opposed to albinism.
1843Prichard Nat. Hist. Man (1845) 39 Throughout intertropical America, both melanism and albinism, as he [M. Roulin] terms the black and white varieties, make their appearance very frequently in warm-blooded animals. 1882Tiemann in Field Naturalist July 32 Melanism occurs in various species of animals, but is far rarer than albinism.
b. A melanic variety (of some recognized species).
1863J. R. Wise New Forest 309 Mr. Rake informs me that a Sabine's snipe..which is now generally regarded as only a melanism of this species was shot at Picket Post, Jan., 1859. 1889H. Saunders Man. Brit. Birds 12 An example of the Siberian Thrush..originally supposed to be a melanism of the Redwing.
2. Bot. ‘A disease producing blackness in plants’ (Cassell's Encycl. Dict. 1885). |