Mimicry in Insects and Birds 263 



nice to eat, and a dainty morsel for any bird, if the latter 

 comes to mistake it for an Amauris, which, like other 

 Danaidce, is a creature no self-respecting bird would think 

 of touching, for both the odour and the taste of these 

 butterflies is sufficient to warn birds off. Many females of 

 the species of Hypolimnas, a harmless butterfly, mimic 

 other species of Danaidce, and can scarcely be distinguished 

 as regards the pattern of their markings from members 

 of the genus Limnas, which is a Danaid genus. 



So-called " mimicry "in birds is not so often in evidence, 

 but it exists nevertheless, and where it occurs, it is always 

 apparently to the advantage of the weaker or more astute 

 species. One very good instance is seen in the resemblance 

 of the American Caracara or Curassow-Hawk {Ibycter 

 americanus) to a Curassow (Ortalis) in Central America. 

 The former is a carrion-eating Hawk, of loathsome habits 

 and aspect. The Curassow, on the other hand, is a Game- 

 bird and good to eat, and one can understand the feel- 

 ings of a keen naturalist, like the late George Cavendish 

 Taylor, when he was travelling in Honduras. " While at 

 Tanlevi," he writes, " I was out in the evening with my 

 gun, and was returning home with a male of the Black- 

 headed Trogon which I had shot, when I met Mr. E , 



who pointed out to me some large birds sitting on a 

 tree overhanging a plantain-patch, which he said were 

 Curassows. There were five of them ; and they certainly 

 did look like Curassows in flight and general appearance. 

 The plantain-patch was thickly overgrown with long grass 

 and reeds, but on I went, regardless of probable snakes 

 and certain swarms of " agarrapatas," although I had been 

 particularly careful all day not to go where I was likely to 

 carry off any of the latter. As for the Trogon, I threw it 

 away in contempt, having so much finer game in view. 

 The Curassows, I considered, would amply repay me for a 



