104 



TIIK GENESIS OF SPECIES. 



[Ciur. 



of orioles, which birds mimic, more or less, four species of a 

 genus of lioney-suckeis, tlie weak orioles liiuliiig' their prolit 

 in being mistaken by certain birds of prey fur the strong, 

 active, and gregarious huney-suckers. Now, many other 

 birds would be benefited by similar mimicry, which is none 

 the less confmed, in this part of the world, to the oriole 

 genus. It is true that the absence of mimicry in otlici- 

 forms may be explained by their possessing some other (as 



Qr^ 



TlIK 8IX-BUAFTEU> BIRD OF PARADIBIS. 



yet unobserved) means of preservation. But it is neverthe- 

 less remarkable, not so much that on(; species shouhl mimic, 

 as that no less than four should do so in diHerent ways and 

 degrees, all these four belonging to one and the same genus. 

 In other cases, however, there is not even the help of 

 protective action to account for the phenomenon. Thus we 

 have the wonderful birds of Paradise," which agree in de- 



^* See "Malay Archipelago," vol. ii., chap, xxxviii. 



