44 DECEPTIVE COLORATION". 



bird became a coiispicvious dark object against a white 

 backgroiTud, it took wing on the first siispiciou of danger. 



I couli-1 mention many other similar instances, but the 

 careful observer will soon find them included in his own 

 experience. 



Deceptive, or, as Poulton terms it, " aggressive " col- 

 oration is perhaps best illustrated by connnon Flycatchers 

 {Tij/'iiiniUla'). Although these birds live in and aliout 

 trees, they are, as a rule, quietly attired in olive-green or 

 olive-gray, and are quite unlike the brilliantly c\a,(l,fruit- 

 eating Tanagers, Orioles, Parrots, and other birds that 

 may be found near them. Insects are therefore more 

 likely to come within snapping distance than if these 

 birds were conspicuously colored. In the same manner 

 we may explain the colors of Hawks, which are never 

 brightly plumaged. 



It is well known that many arctic animals liecome 

 white on the approach of winter. With Ptarmigans 

 this is doubtless an instance of protective coloration, but 

 the Snowy Owl, who feeds on the Ptarmigan, may be 

 said to illustrate deceptive coloration. 



Kecognition, signaling, or directive colors have, with 

 more or less reason, been made to include many difiei-ent 

 types of markings, of which I shall mention only those 

 that are conspicuously shown in flight or by some move- 

 ment. Such are the Avliite outer tail-feathers of Juncos, 

 Meadowlarks, Towhees, and many other birds, and cer- 

 tain wing and rump patches, which are noticeable only 

 when the bird is on the wing. IMarkings of this kind are 

 suj^posed to aid birds in recognizing others of their kind, 

 their special use being to keep the individuals of a family 

 or flock together, so that when one starts the others can 

 readily follow. The theory is open to objections, but 

 these so-called recognition marks are so often found anH>ng 

 birds that they doubtless are of some use, though their 



