CONSPICUOUS COLOUR 39 



Eeturning to Table I, Repelling Conspicu- 

 ous Colouring is also exemplified by Alarm- 

 ing Coloration ; many birds will frighten 

 away an enemy by suddenly displaying vivid 

 colour the distention of scarlet bladders, 

 or erection of bright plumes. Insects also 

 utilise this method of scaring enemies ; organs 

 coloured with the primary colours are suddenly 

 disclosed or protruded. 



Attracting Conspicuous Colouring, it will be 

 shown, is possibly much commoner in Nature 

 than is generally supposed ; accepted examples 

 are as yet uncommon. The bright under- 

 wings of many insects are supposed to be 

 of this nature, that predatory animals may 

 seize them, rather than more vulnerable 

 parts. 



Parent birds, when protecting their young, 

 will display their brightest plumes, in order 

 to attract the enemy's attention, to draw 

 its attack ; and many examples are given in 

 Chapter VIII. 



In the meantime, mention may be made of 

 certain colour marks, here called attraction 

 marks. 



The eye-spots found in insects are con- 

 sidered to be for the purpose of attracting 

 an enemy's attention to them in order that 



