CHAPTER X 



MIMICRY AND PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCE IN COLOUR 

 OF BIRDS 



Female of Papilio merope 

 (Fam. Papilionidce). 



Female of Amauris niavius 

 (Fam. Danaidce). 



Mimicry in insects — Curassow and Caracara — Drongo and Black 

 Cuckoo — Orioles and Helmeted Honey-eaters — Owl-Parrot — 

 Thick-knees — Pennant-winged Nightjar — Argentine Little Bittern 

 — Ptarmigan and Willow-Grouse. 



A VERY interesting phenomenon in connection with the 

 colouration of animals is that known as "mimicry." Lately 

 it has become the fashion to speak of this as " unconscious " 

 mimicry, by which I suppose it is intended to suggest that 

 animals have not the power to change their appearance at 

 will. No one would suppose that they had. but that many 

 animals have changed in course of time, and have adopted 



261 



