Objections to the Theory 
therefore, insufficient to prove the utility of the 
perfected resemblance. We may readily grant 
this and yet maintain that the origin of the 
resemblance cannot be due to the action of 
natural selection. 
The Drongo-cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris) dis- 
plays so great a likeness to the King Crow 
(Dicrurus ater) that it is frequently held up by 
Neo-Darwinians as an excellent example of 
mimicry among birds. But D. Dewar writes, 
on page 204 of Birds of the Plains: “1 do not 
pretend to know the colour of the last common 
ancestor of all the cuckoos, but I do not believe 
that the colour was black. What then caused 
Surniculus lugubris to become black and assume 
a king-crow-like tail? 
“ A black feather or two, even if coupled with 
some lengthening of the tail, would in no way 
assist the cuckoo in placing its egg in the 
drongo’s nest. Suppose an ass were to borrow 
the caudal appendage of the king of the forest, 
pin it on behind him, and then advance among 
his fellows with loud brays, would any donkey of 
average intelligence be misled by the feeble 
attempt at disguise? I think not. Much less 
would a king-crow be deceived by a few black 
feathers in the plumage of a cuckoo. I do not 
believe that natural selection has any direct con- 
nection with the nigritude of the drongo-cuckoo.” 
Darwin was fully alive to this difficulty when 
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