COLORATION AND MIMICRY 113 

 particular leader, it is a warning to the rest 

 to run together preparatory to taking flight. 



Game-birds are naturally well protected, 

 for besides the telepathic faculty which holds 

 them together, the attitude of concealment is 

 enormously helped out by colour resemblance, 

 a natural scheme known as " protective color- 

 ation and mimicry of surroundings." 



In the insect world this scheme is elaborated 

 and perfected to an incredible degree ; not 

 only are spots, blotches and shades of colour 

 truthfully matched, but the creatures mimic 

 the actual forms and shapes of the surrounding 

 inanimate objects. 



" Concealers " are subconsciously aware 

 that, to keep up the deception, a rigid posture 

 must be maintained. I nthe case of partridges, 

 if the observer's eye is keen enough to detect 

 them on the ground, he will see that the birds 

 lie inert, seemingly as lifeless as the stones and 

 clods which surround them, nevertheless they 

 are in telepathic touch with one another, so 

 that the moment flight becomes necessary 

 they spring together as one bird. 



The same mind-blending scheme is manifest 

 in some gregarious animals. For example, a 

 flock of sheep, when alarmed, immediately 

 herd together ; they do not (in my opinion) 

 rally round a leader, but mass together in order 



