1883 .] Correspondence. 497 
inhabit. Among the green leaves of the various trees of the 
forest innumerable leaf-coloured insedts are to be found ; whilst 
closely adhering to the rough grey bark of the same trees, we 
observe beautifully coloured grey-looking moths of various 
patterns, } r et altogether so resembling the bark as to be invisible 
to the passing observer. In like manner among quadrupeds I 
have traced a corresponding analogy, for even in the case of the 
stupendous elephant the ashy colour of his hide so corresponds 
with the general appearance of the grey thorny jungles which 
he frequents throughout the day that a person unaccustomed to 
hunt these animals, standing on a commanding situation, might 
look down upon a herd and fail to detedt their presence ; and 
further, in the case of the giraffe, which is invariably met with 
among venerable forests, where numerous blasted and weather- 
beaten trunks and stems occur, I have repeatedly been in doubt 
as to the presence of a troop until I had recourse to my tele- 
scope ; and on referring to my savage attendants, I have known 
even their practical eyes deceived, at one time mistaking these 
dilapidated trunks for camelopards, and again confounding real 
camelopards with those aged veterans of the forest.”-— (Edition, 
1856.) — I am, &c., 
S. Billing. 
THE NICETY OF BIRDS. 
To the Editor of the Journal of Science. 
Sir, — Permit me to make an addition to the fadts given under 
this title by H. M., in your February issue. A pair of love-birds 
in my possession always bury any objedt which they dislike under 
the husks of the millet which forms their food. A strawberry 
was once given them, in the supposition that, like most of 'the 
Psittacidas, they would relish fruit. It disappeared, and I thought 
it had been eaten, but the next day, on cleaning out the cage, 
the missing strawberry was found carefully buried in a heap of 
sand and millet-shells. — I am, &c., 
E. A. S. 
