CHAPTER XIII 



MIMICS AND VENTEILOQUISTS AMONG BIRDS 



The moping heron, motionless and stiff. 

 That on a stone, as silently and stilly. 

 Stood, an apparent sentinel, as if 

 To guard the water-lily, 



— Thomas Hood. 



AMONG the many interesting phases of bird 

 life, none possesses a more absorbing inter- 

 est than that relating to their various kinds of 

 mimicry. Often colour serves to protect a bird by 

 enabling it to escape danger, or capture its prey. 

 Many birds have learned, or have assumed a form 

 of mimicry whereby they so closely imitate their 

 immediate surroundings as to pass unnoticed by 

 their enemies. To this protective resemblance large 

 groups of birds owe their lives. 



In the far north the ptarmigan, during the winter 

 season, assumes a snow-white garb, so that against 

 the snow it is unnoticeable, but as the svmmier 

 months come on it assumes the exact colouring of 

 the grey lichens and mosses among which it lives. 



206 



