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VRHD - Winter Phase Pigmentation
When we bring the focal plane a little
closer we can see the actual structures that contain
the purple pigment. The outer cuticle of the scales is
clear - this can be seen around the margins of the
scales. The translucent layer tends to give the scales
a soft, slightly out of focus look. The stripping away
of a pigment layer(s?) allows us to to see how
the purple pigment is deposited at the microscopic
level. If I could have brought the camera a little
closer yet we would be able to see tiny, reticulated
patterns reminiscent of those found in certain
translucent agates. Another interesting tidbit we get
from this photo is that it shows the presence of small
amounts of true red pigment.
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