An AUSTRALIAN BtRD feOOK. 
165 
This explanation is also applied to other wild animals; thus 
many Deer have the white patch on the hind quarters. Other 
Deer, seeing this warning signal displayed in flight, immedi- 
ately make for safety. Similarly, Wallace has explained the 
white tail of a Rabbit. 
The Skunk also has this white patch on the hind quarters, but 
here a different explanation is required, for the Skunk does not 
trouble to run away when a possible enemy appears. The bright 
color is here regarded as an "advertizing color." The Skunk has 
other means of protection, and he is labelled dangerous or objec- 
tionable, just as our one poisonous Spider is plainly labelled 
dangerous by means of a red stripe. An inexperienced enemy 
may rush at the Skunk, but the means of protection enjoyed 
by it effectively protects it, and the enemy retires. 
It is a rule recognized by collectors that conspicuous animals 
have generally some effective means of protection, and they are 
best left alone, or at least taken with caution. This is readily 
understood when it is considered that a young, inexperienced 
chicken will rush at a brightly-colored caterpillar. He then 
retires, endeavoring to get rid of the objectionable taste. 
For the future, he avoids brightly-colored animals. Thus the 
bright color is an obvious advantage to its possessor, as it saves 
a dangerous peck. It is also an advantage to its enemies, for it 
saves them an unpleasant experience. We are told the Parrot 
is the only bird with a sense of taste, but it seems that the chicken 
possesses one also. 
Still another phase of color is shown by Diamond-Birds, where 
three species have a yellow spot, a red spot, or an orange spot 
respectively on the wing. It is also shown by the Red-breasted 
Robins. One has a white forehead, one a white cap, and the 
third a red cap. These colored patches are considered to be 
recognition marks, so that a bird can recognize its mate, or a 
bird of its own kind, readily and with certainty. 
That rarely-seen, but beautiful, bird, the Mistletoe-Swallow, is 
fairly common. From several points of view, it is of great 
interest. Ranging from India, through Malaysia, to Australia,] 
it did not reach Tasmania. Possibly Bass Strait was formed 
before this bird reached Southern Victoria. Interesting, also, is 
the fact that no mistletoe is found in Tasmania. This bird is 
closely associated with the mistletoe, for, v/herever you find it, 
you find the mistletoe. It furnishes another example of those 
interesting partnerships between animals and plants. It is not 
related to Swallows, but while it sits on a bough, its external 
form somewhat resembles that of a Swallow. Its nest is one of 
the most beautiful of all nests — a finely-felted, domed structure, 
often suspended in a clump of mistletoe. This bird has a 
long-continued, pretty, animated song, which is seldom heard, for 
it is low, and, as the bird is high in the tree-tops, it might be 
inaudible; but the main reason is probably that our ears are not 
attuned to pick out these fine songs. It is said that Tyndall 
found the insects on the Alps almost deafening, while his com- 
