CONSPICUOUS COLOUR 39 
Returning to Table I, Repelling Conspicu- 
ous Colouring is also exemplified by Alarm- 
ing Coloration; many birds will frighten 
away an enemy by suddenly displaying vivid 
colour—the distention of scarlet bladders, 
or erection of bright plumes. Insects also 
utilise this method of scaring enemies ; organs 
coloured with the primary colours are suddenly 
disclosed or protruded. 
Attracting Conspicuous Colouring, it will be 
shown, is possibly much commoner in Nature 
than is generally supposed; accepted examples 
are as yet uncommon. The bright under- 
wings of many insects are supposed to be 
of this nature, that predatory animals may 
seize them, rather than more vulnerable 
parts. 
Parent birds, when protecting their young, 
will display their brightest plumes, in order 
to attract the enemy’s attention, to draw 
its attack ; and many examples are given in 
Chapter VIII. 
In the meantime, mention may be made of 
certain colour marks, here called attraction 
marks. 
The eye-spots found in insects are con- 
sidered to be for the purpose of attracting 
an enemy’s attention to them in order that 
