 Countershading is less often used for military camouflage , despite Second World War experiments that showed its effectiveness . English zoologist Hugh Cott encouraged the use of techniques including countershading , but despite his authority on the subject , failed to persuade the British authorities . Soldiers often wrongly viewed camouflage netting as a kind of invisibility cloak , and they had to be taught to look at camouflage practically , from the enemy observer 's point of view . At the same time in Australia , zoologist William John Dakin advised soldiers to copy animals ' methods , using their instincts for wartime camouflage . 
