Of the Moluccas. 405 



dorhynclius subcornutus is of an earthy brown color, wash- 

 ed with ochreish yellow, with bare orbits, dusky cheeks, and 

 the usual recurved nape-ruff. The Mimeta forsteni, which 

 accompanies it, is absolutely identical in the tints of every 

 part of the body, and the details are copied just as minutely 

 as in the former species. 



We have two kinds of evidence to tell us which bird in 

 this case is the model, and which the copy. The honeysuck- 

 ers are colored in a manner which is very general in the whole 

 family to which they belong, while the orioles seem to have 

 departed from the gay yellow tints so common among their 

 allies. We should therefore conclude that it is the latter 

 who mimic the former. If so, however, they must derive 

 some advantage from the imitation ; and as they are certain- 

 ly weak birds, with small feet and claw^s, they may require 

 it. Now the Tropidorhynchi are very strong and active 

 birds, 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 to- 

 gether in time of danger. They are very plentiful, and very 

 pugnacious, frequently di-iving away crows and even hawks, 

 Avhich perch on a tree where a few of them are assembled. 

 It is very probable, therefore, that the smaller birds of prey 

 have learned to respect these birds and leave them alone, and 

 it may thus be a great advantage for the weaker and less 

 courageous Mimetas to be mistaken for them. This being 

 the case, the laws of variation and survival of the fittest will 

 sufiice to explain how the resemblance has been brought 

 about, withoiit supposing any voluntary action on the part 

 of the birds themselves ; and those who have read Mr. Dar- 

 win's " Origin of Species " will have no difficulty in compre- 

 hending the whole process. 



The insects of the Moluccas are pre-eminently beautiful, 

 even when compared with the varied and beautiful produc- 

 tions of other parts of the Archipelago. The grand bird-wing- 

 ed butterflies (Ornithoptera) here reach their maximum of size 

 and beauty, and many of the Papilios, Pierida?, Danaidae, and 

 Nymphalidffi are equally pre-eminent. There is, perhaps, no 

 island in the world so small as Amboyna where so many 



