CHAP. IX WARXIXG COLORATIOX AXD MIMICRY 233 



The Skunk as illustrating jrarning Coloi'ation. 



While staying a few days, in July 1887, at the Summit 

 Hotel on the Central Pacific Railway, I strolled out one evening 

 after dinner, and on the road, not fifty yards from the house, 

 I saw a pretty little white and black animal with a bushy tail 

 coming towards me. As it came on at a slow pace and Avith- 

 out any fear, although it e^adently saw me, I thought at first 

 that it must be some tame creature, Avhen it suddenly occiuTed 

 to me that it was a skunk. It came on till within five or six 

 yards of me, then C|uietly climbed over a dwarf Avail and dis- 

 appeared under a small outhouse, in search of chickens, as the 

 landlord afterAvards told me. This animal possesses, as is well 

 known, a most offensiA'e secretion, which it has the poAver of 

 ejecting over its enemies, and AA'hich effectually protects it 

 from attack. The odour of this substance is so penetrating 

 that it taints, and renders useless, everything it touches, 

 or in its vicinity. ProAdsions near it become uneatable, and 

 clothes saturated with it Avill retain the smell for several 

 weeks, even though they are repeatedly washed and dried. 

 A drop of the lic[uid in the eyes Avill cause blindness, and 

 Indians are said not unfrequently to lose theii- sight from this 

 cause. OAving to this remarkal)le poAver of offence the skunk 

 is rarely attacked by other animals, and its black and white 

 fur, and the bushy A\^hite tail carried erect Avhen disturbed, 

 form the danger-signals by Avhich it is easily distinguished in 

 the tAvilight or moonlight from unprotected animals. Its 

 consciousness that it needs only to be seen to be avoided giA^es 

 it that sloAvness of motion and fearlessness of aspect Avhich 

 are, as Ave shall see, characteristic of most creatures so pro- 

 tected. 



JFarning Colours among Insects. 



It is among insects that Avarning colours are best developed, 

 and most abundant. AVe all knoAv hoAv Avell marked and 

 conspicuous are the colours and forms of the stinging AA'asps 

 and bees, no one of AA'hich in any part of the Avorld is knoAvn 

 to be ^protectively coloui-ed like the majority of defenceless 

 insects. Most of the great tribe of !Malacoderms among 

 beetles are distasteful to insect-eating animals. Our red and 



