MIMICRY. 549 



yet reached the explanation of the colours of eggs ; we have only 

 by observation seen — under " natural selection," if you will, or 

 active mimicry — how avian subterfuge has in so many cases 

 combated the pertinacious search of the persistent enemies to 

 bird existence. 



Sometimes this mimicry appears only as a survival, and when 

 its character is no longer protective. " The bird which in the 

 arctics long ago lined its nest with green moss or grey lichens 

 may now floor it with flax in Dakota, or pad it with cotton in 

 Texas ; and yet in either deposit a solid green or mottled greyish 

 egg in keeping with the colours of ' the old house at home.'"* 

 Thus the eggs of the Wild Duck are placed among the green 

 reeds, while those of the Lapwing are with equal confidence con- 

 signed to the ploughed field or upland. The Red Grouse can 

 safely leave its speckled eggs among the heather ; the Lesser 

 Tern has little fear that its spotted egg will be noticed on the 

 shingle, or the Ringed Plover that its egg will be readily dis- 

 tinguished from the sand on which it is laid. Take Mr. Seebohm's 

 ' History of British Birds,' with its beautiful illustrations of eggs, 

 often so decisive in colour and markings, and then find the eggs 

 in their natural surroundings, and one will then experience how 

 <; the whole creation groaneth," or rather the intense beauties and 

 harmonies that have arisen in Nature because she " is red in 

 tooth and claw." 



Mammals contribute the same evidence, and the narratives of 

 sportsmen and travellers afford many instances. According to 

 Mr. Buxton, the Sardinian Mouflon (Ovis musimon) was one of the 

 most difficult animals to approach with which he was acquainted. 

 He observes, that " when they are alarmed, or * at gaze,' they have 

 a habit, or at least the rams have, of placing themselves in the 

 middle of a bush of Macquia, or in the shadow which it casts. 

 The ewes, who are naturally less conspicuous, do this in a less 

 degree. "f The same authority describes a similar habit in the 

 Barbary Sheep (Ovis tragelaphus), known by the name of " Aroui": 

 " They are constantly within sight and hearing of the Arabs and 

 their Goats, and, having no means of escaping from their 

 neighbourhood, have developed the art of hiding themselves to 



* James Newton Baskett, ' Papers, World's Congress on Ornithology,' 

 Chicago, p. 100. 



f ' Short Stalks,' 2nd edit. (1893), p. 22, 



