AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 165 



This explanation is also applied to other wild animals; thus 

 many Deer have the white patch on the hind quarters. Other 

 Deer, seeing this warning signal displayed in flight, immedi- 

 ately make for safety. Similarly, Wallace has explained the 

 white tail of a Rabbit. 



The Skunk also has this white patch on the hind quarters, but 

 here a different explanation is required, for the Skunk does not 

 trouble to run away when a possible enemy appears. The bright 

 color is here regarded as an "advertizing color." The Skunk has 

 other means of protection, and he is labelled dangerous or objec- 

 tionable, just as our one poisonous Spider is plainly labelled 

 dangerous by means of a red stripe. An inexperienced enemy 

 may rush at the Skunk, but the means of protection enjoyed 

 by it effectively protects it, and the enemy retires. 



It is a rule recognized by collectors that conspicuous animals 

 Have generally some effective means of protection, and they are 

 best left alone, or at least taken with caution. This is readily 

 understood when it is considered that a young, inexperienced 

 chicken will rush at a brightly-colored caterpillar. He then 

 retires, endeavoring to get rid of the objectionable taste. 

 For the future, he avoids brightly-colored animals. Thus the 

 bright color is an obvious advantage to its possessor, as it saves 

 a dangerous peck. It is also an advantage to its enemies, for it 

 saves them an unpleasant experience. We are told the Parrot 

 is the only bird with a sense of taste, but it seems that the chicken 

 possesses one also. 



Still another phase of color is shown by Diamond-Birds, where 

 three species have a yellow spot, a red spot, or an orange spot 

 respectively on the wing. It is also shown by the Red-breasted 

 Robins. One has a white forehead, one a white cap, and the 

 third a red cap. These colored patches are considered to be 

 recognition marks, so that a bird can recognize its mate, or a 

 bird of its own kind, readily and with certainty. 



That rarely-seen, but beautiful, bird, the Mistletoe-Swallow, is 

 fairly common. From several points of view, it is of great 

 interest. Ranging from India, through Malaysia, to Australia, 

 it did not reach Tasmania. Possibly Bass Strait was formed 

 before this bird reached Southern Victoria. Interesting, also, is 

 the fact that no mistletoe is found in Tasmania. This bird is 

 closely associated with the mistletoe, for, wherever you find it, 

 you find the mistletoe. It furnishes another example of those 

 interesting partnerships between animals and plants. It is not 

 related to Swallows, but while it sits on a bough, its external 

 form somewhat resembles that of a Swallow. Its nest is one of 

 the most beautiful of all nests — a finely-felted, domed structure, 

 often suspended in a clump of mistletoe. This bird has a 

 long-continued, pretty, animated song, which is seldom heard, for 

 it is low, and, as the bird is high in the tree-tops, it might be 

 inaudible; but the main reason is probably that our ears are not 

 attuned to pick out these fine songs. It is said that Tyndall 

 found the insects on the Alps almost deafening, while his com- 



