BODILY CHARACTERISTICS— CONSPICUOUSNESS 303 



itself very effectively by ejection of the noxious fluid already 

 mentioned, and of which Hudson says (in The Naturalist in La 

 Plata): — " Men have been blinded for ever by a discharge of the 

 fiery liquid full in their faces. On a mucous membrane it burns 

 like sulphuric acid, say the unfortunates who have had the ex- 

 perience." The same author quotes from the Ibis a description 

 given by Mr. Ernest Gibson of an encounter between an eagle- 

 vulture {Polyborus tharus) and a skunk. " Riding home one after- 

 noon he spied a skunk ' shuffling along in the erratic manner usual 

 to that odoriferous quadruped ' ; following it at a very short dis- 

 tance was an eagle-vulture, evidently bent on mischief Every 

 time the bird came near, the bushy tail rose menacingly; then the 

 caranco would fall behind, and, after a few moments' hesitation, 

 follow on again. At length, growing bolder, it sprung forward, 

 seizing the threatening tail with its claw, but immediately after 

 ' began staggering about with dishevelled plumage, tearful eyes, 

 and a profoundly woebegone expression on its vulture face.' The 

 skunk, after turning and regarding its victim with an I-told-you-so 

 look for a few moments, trotted unconcernedly off." 



A number of Poisonous Snakes exemplify warning by colour 

 or other means, and the reason for this is not immediately ob- 

 vious, for these creatures possess very efficient defensive weapons 

 in their fangs. But, as Poulton points out (in The Colours of 

 Animals), snake -poison does not kill immediately, and the 

 aggressor would have time to despatch his quarry before suc- 

 cumbing to it. Besides which, the amount of this poison available 

 for the time being is but small, and a snake which has used its 

 fangs is thereby left for some time in a comparatively helpless 

 condition. 



The Coral-Snakes of Asia, Africa, America, and Australia are 

 among the best examples of Reptiles exhibiting warning colora- 

 tion. One of the most striking species {Elaps corallinus), native 

 to South America and the West Indies, is of a bright-red colour, 

 marked with broad black rings, the margins of which are greenish- 

 white. 



Some snakes employ terrifying or warning attitudes as a 

 means of warding off attack, notably the Cobras, which, when 

 threatened, raise the front part of the body from the ground and 

 inflate the neck, on the back of which is a prominent spectacle- 

 like marking. The Puff-Adders of Africa swell up their bodies 



