RESEMBLANCES AMONG ANIMALS. 103 



together on no other snakes in the world but on Elaps 

 and the species which so closely resemble it. In all 

 these cases, the size and form as well as the coloura- 

 tion, are so much alike, that none but a naturalist 

 would distinguish the harmless from the poisonous 

 species. 



Many of the small tree-frogs are no doubt also 

 mimickers. When seen in their natural attitudes, I 

 have been often unable to distinguish them from beetles 

 or other insects sitting upon leaves, but regret to say 

 I neglected to observe what species or groups they 

 most resembled, and the subject does not yet seem to 

 have attracted the attention of naturalists abroad. 



Mimicry among Birds. 



In the class of birds there are a number of cases 

 that make some approach to mimicry, such as the 

 resemblance of the cuckoos, a weak and defenceless 

 group of birds, to hawks and Gallinaccse. There is, 

 however, one example which goes much further than 

 this, and seems to be of exactly the same nature as 

 the many cases of insect mimicry which have been 

 already given. In Australia and the Moluccas there is 

 a genus of honeysuckers called Tropidorhynchus, good 

 sized birds, very strong and active, having powerful 

 grasping claws and long, curved, sharp beaks. They 

 assemble together in groups and small flocks, and they 

 have a very loud bawling note, which can be heard 

 at a great distance, and serves to collect a number 

 together in time of danger. They are very plentiful 



