Conspicuous Animals Attacked 
other birds. Bulbuls did, however, usually 
refuse the Dedias and Papilio mentioned above. 
The Skunk is preyed upon in America by the 
Eagle-owl (Budo virgénianus) and the Puma. 
Thus, animals provided with natural defences 
are not immune from attack. 
Hence natural selection cannot have en- 
couraged the survival of individuals which dis- 
played a conspicuous colour, for the sake of 
the “warning.” 
We must not forget that many creatures armed 
with powerful weapons possess the unobtrusive 
drab, brown, or green colouration which is 
associated with concealment from foes. 
There can be little doubt that, but for the fact 
that the hive-bee can inflict a sting more severe 
than that of the wasp, this useful insect would 
have been cited as a case of a protectively 
coloured creature. Notwithstanding its sober 
brown colouring, the hive-bee is recognised and 
avoided. 
Professor Poulton records that the dull in- 
conspicuous caterpillar of the moth (Menza 
typica) is rejected by reptiles. It must be 
admitted, however, that these cases among 
insects are very rare. 
The smooth newt (Molge vulgaris), a relation 
of the salamander, is protected by a poisonous 
skin ; nevertheless the creature has a dark brown 
back and spends most of its time on land. Its 
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