170 MOSTLY MAMMALS 



other and more powerful animals. And any one who is in 

 doubt as to the cause of this proud indifference should 

 read Mr. W. H. Hudson's account of the terrible and 

 lasting effects of their foetid excretion, as detailed in "The 

 Naturalist in La Plata." Less familiar is the so-called 

 Cape polecat (Ictonyx), an animal of about the same size 

 as an ordinary polecat, but having its fur marked with 

 broad longitudinal bands of blackish brown alternating 

 with white. As this creature is stated to have an odour 

 as disgusting as that of a skunk, there can be little 

 hesitation in classing it among animals possessing " warning 

 odours." 



Another member of the same family {Poecilogale albinuchd) 

 from South Africa is likewise conspicuously banded with 

 blackish brown and white, and thus closely resembles the 

 Cape polecat, for which it might readily be mistaken. 

 Unfortunately, its habits seem very imperfectly known, and 

 it is difficult to ascertain whether it has an odour as 

 powerful as that of its larger cousin. It is very probable 

 however, it has not, and that its coloration is a true 

 mimicry of that of the latter. If this be so, we shall 

 have the pied coloration of the animals above mentioned 

 attributable to three distinct causes. In the case of the 

 guereza it affords protection, from its resemblance to in- 

 animate surroundings ; in the skunk and Cape polecat it 

 serves to warn other animals from attacking a noisome 

 beast, which is thereby protected ; while the South African 

 weasel enjoys immunity from attack from being mistaken 

 for the similarly coloured polecat. 



