The Body of a Bird 



31 • 



An instance of what has been called unconscious 

 mimicry seems to exist in the cuckoo of the Old World, 

 which, like our cowbird, is parasitical in hal)its, makinji; 

 no nest of its own, but depositing its eggs in the nesis of 

 other species of birds. The cuckoo bears a striking 



Fig. 248. — Ivory Gull. Aggressive and protectiv(> coloration in an Arctic (lull. 



resemblance to a small hawk, l)oth in general pattern and 

 in its darting flight. The name Hawk-cuckoo has been 

 applied to a genus of these birds in India; the name being 

 given because of the reseml)lance to a hawk. This simi- 

 larity may be of great use in temporarily frightening 

 away the owners of the nest in which the l)ird wishes 



