CONSPICUOUSNESS IN NATURE 19 



Repellent sounds are very commonly used 

 to ward off a foe : sudden and therefore 

 startling sounds are especially used. Attract- 

 ing sounds, to draw an enemy's attack from 

 the young, are often difficult to distinguish 

 from the alarm notes made to warn the young 

 of danger ; it may be that sometimes the same 

 note is used for the two purposes. The cry 

 of the Plover or Curlew certainly causes the 

 young to take cover, and more than likely 

 distracts the enemy's attention from the young 

 to the screaming parents. 



Evidence will be brought forward later to 

 show that the songs of birds are to protect 

 the female, by drawing the attention of 

 any near predatory animal to the singer, 

 the male. 



It may be here mentioned that the drawing 

 of an enemy's attack is not in any way an 

 act of self-destruction. Predatory animals 

 usually take their victims by surprise, and 

 probably then stand as good a chance of 

 making a successful capture, as when the 

 victim is purposely exposing itself in order 

 to draw attack. 



Scent. Scent is used precisely like Sound. 

 Repellent scents are always unpleasant ; but 

 owing to the inferiority of our sense of smell, 



