Conspicuous Animals Attacked 



other birds. Bulbuls did, however, usually 

 refuse the Delias and Papilio mentioned above. 



The Skunk is preyed upon in America by the 

 Eagle-owl (Bubo virginianus) and the Puma. 



Thus, animals provided with natural defences 

 are not immune from attack. 



Hence natural selection cannot have en- 

 couraged the survival of individuals which dis- 

 played a conspicuous colour, for the sake of 

 the " warning." 



We must not forget that many creatures armed 

 with powerful weapons possess the unobtrusive 

 drab, brown, or green colouration which is 

 associated with concealment from foes. 



There can be little doubt that, but for the fact 

 that the hive-bee can inflict a sting more severe 

 than that of the wasp, this useful insect would 

 have been cited as a case of a protectively 

 coloured creature. Notwithstanding its sober 

 brown colouring, the hive-bee is recognised and 

 avoided. 



Professor Poulton records that the dull in- 

 conspicuous caterpillar of the moth (Mania 

 typica) is rejected by reptiles. It must be 

 admitted, however, that these cases among 

 insects are very rare. 



The smooth newt (Molge vulgaris), a relation 

 of the salamander, is protected by a poisonous 

 skin ; nevertheless the creature has a dark brown 

 back and spends most of its time on land. Its 



221 



