FEATHERED FRAUDS. 125 



cunning device by which it reaped a benefit, 

 pursue a similar course to help himself out of a 

 difficulty, either in getting the better of his 

 enemies, taking an advantage of his prey, or 

 escaping some danger. Man is a marvellous 

 mimic, and has almost unconsciously adopted 

 many peculiarities from creatures far below him 

 in the scale of life ; he has been anticipated by 

 the lower animals, and even by plants, in many of 

 his proudest achievements, and has taken hints 

 from them in carrying out some of his most skilful 

 handiwork. Some of the deceptions practised by 

 insects are little short of marvellous ; the arts, and 

 tricks, and travesties followed and indulged in by 

 birds are little, if any, less wonderful. 



These peculiarities are not confined to any one 

 class of birds ; but predaceous species, and those 

 big and strong enough to defend themselves, do 

 not very generally descend to the practising of 

 such deceits and wiles as their weaker and more 

 defenceless relatives are compelled to do. We 

 cannot imagine the plucky little Sparrowhawk de- 

 scending to tricks of any kind, either in circum- 

 venting his prey, or shielding his young or himself 

 from harm ; he captures his quarry in fair fight, 

 with impetuous dash ; he defends his offspring with 

 undaunted courage ; and he dies game to the last. 

 It is a well-known and most interesting fact that 

 many species of insects closely resemble or mimic 

 other and very distinct species, and it is also well 

 known that these masqueraders derive benefit 



