Theory of Mimicry Criticised 



display more than double this number of colours, 

 we may draw attention to the fact that those 

 birds which are most immune from attack are 

 precisely those which display the smallest range 

 as regards colour, eg., hawks, owls, crows, gulls, 

 storks, and cranes. As we have already sub- 

 mitted, no question of Miillerian association 

 comes in here. 



On the other hand, the eminently edible 

 families of game-birds and ducks display great 

 variety of colour, in the males at all events. 



4. As regards the statement that although 

 in many cases the mimetic resemblances extend 

 to the minutest detail, they are not accompanied 

 by any structural changes except such as assist 

 in the production of a superficial likeness, we may 

 refer to the case we have already cited of the 

 New Zealand cuckoo, which, though it so closely 

 copies an American hawk, is typically cuculine in 

 structure. Here, of course, there can be no 

 question of advantage to the " mimicking " 

 cuckoo in the resemblances. 



5. In answer to the argument that mimetic 

 resemblance extends to form, attitude, and move- 

 ment, as well as colour, and that deep-seated 

 organs are affected only when the superficial 

 resemblance is thereby intensified, we may draw 

 attention to such cases as the following : 



(a) The harmless Indian Snake (Lycodon aulicus) 

 is closely similar to the well-known Krait (Bun- 



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