Recently published Ornithological Works. 561 



ally Hierococcyx, seem to mimic the Hawks. A further and 

 even more striking instance, not mentioned by Mr. Beddard, 

 is tlie similarity of the Indian Cuckoo Siirniculus lugubris 

 to the common Indian Drongo or King Crow, Dicrurus 

 ater. Whether these likenesses are really advantageous 

 to the mimicking species, and are real instances of mimicry 

 (comparable to the classical instances of the South American 

 Leptalis and its corresponding Heliconid), it is not easy to say. 

 Mr. Beddard thinks that in some cases these likenesses, 

 of which several other instances are given, may be due to real 

 structural affinities. 



A very interesting example of protective coloration in 

 birds is given in the case of the South American Bittern 

 (Butorides involucris) , which was observed by Mr. W. H. 

 Hudson to conceal itself very successfully by flying in among 

 tall reeds and clinging there in an upright position, where its 

 colours and even its shape harmonized closely with its 

 surroundings. 



Finally a long chapter is devoted to sexual coloration, of 

 which Birds undoubtedly show many striking examples. 

 Mr. Beddard by no means attributes their sexual differen- 

 tiation of colour to sexual selection only. It may be due in 

 part, he says, to the different mode of life of the two sexes. 

 We meet with sexual coloration in animals which cannot be 

 moved by any choice or aesthetic preference ; but it is also 

 true that it is most highly developed in the higher animals, 

 to which, however, the Mammals form a very striking 

 exception; so that on the whole there are probably several 

 very different causes all tending towards sexual coloration. 



This indicates the whole drift of the book, which is in fact 

 a protest against the too hasty and badly digested generali- 

 zations with regard to the facts of colour, form, and habits 

 among animals that are so common at the present time. 



Mr. Beddard^s volume, which should be of great interest 

 not only to the professed naturalist but also to the general 

 public, is very well illustrated with four coloured plates and 

 a large number of woodcuts. 



