178 ANIMAL COLORATION. 



another way (sting), rio less than in the weak-flying Heli- 

 conidre, which are believed to be entirely protected by the 

 said disagreeable smell and taste. As has been seen, the 

 explanation of warning coloration would be greatly facilitated 

 if this could be proved in all cases. 



Dr. Eisig's View not Universally Applicable. 



Dr. Eisig's suggestion, however, will not apply to many 

 cases : for instance, to the bright colours of birds which owe 

 their colours largely to structural modifications of the feathers 

 themselves. 



There is, however, only indirect evidence (furnished by 

 mimicry) that any bird is distasteful. Nor are there many 

 cases of warning colours in which the disagreeable quality 

 advertised can be definitely proved not to reside in the skin 

 itself ; but there are some. 



The Warning Coloration of the Skunk. 



The skunk has been instanced by Mr. Wallace as illus- 

 trating the accompaniment of a conspicuous coloration by 

 some disagreeable quality. Neither one fact nor the other 

 can be doubted in this case. But the skunk has its enemies, 

 and is not so unmolested as has been stated. In Patagonia the 

 skunk is one of the most abundant animals. The traveller 

 D'Orbigny wrote that in that country the skunk formed the 

 chief food of the Crowned Harpy eagle ; but although 

 D'Orbigny 's statement is, according to Mr. Hudson, "pure 

 conjecture," Mr. Hudson* admits that most of the eagles shot 

 by himself in Patagonia, including a dozen Chilian eagles 

 and one Crowned Harpy, smelt of skunk. Pumas also some- 

 times evidently commit the same mistake, for their fur in 

 some cases smells strongly of skunk. 



* "Argentine Ornithology," vol. ii.. p. GO. 



