Aug., 1892. colours and coloration in animals. 
171 
known examples are found among tropical butterflies of the 
families Pierida (“ Whites ”) and Heliconidce : certain species of 
the latter are unpalatable and are not, it is said, eaten by 
birds, while the former are palatable and largely eaten; 
certain species, however, of the former obtain immunity by 
the resemblance which they bear to the unpalatable forms of 
the Heliconidtf, which is so close that even experienced 
naturalists have at first sight been deceived. 
(2.) In the second class, the colours are sematic ; that is, for 
warning foes or signalling to friends, and are very prominent 
and striking. First and chiefly, they may warn off enemies 
because they denote some dangerous or unpleasant property 
of their owner; this is the case with the skunk, which 
carries its large, white, bushy tail high up so that all may see 
it, as an indication of the horribly smelling fluid which it can 
eject. Other examples are the black and yellow colours of 
bees, wasps, and hornets ; the gaudy colours of unpalatable 
insects, of poisonous snakes, and of some frogs, toads, &c., 
the skin of which secretes an acrid, poisonous fluid. In many 
cases actual experiment has shown that the owners of the 
bright colours are rejected as food by creatures which feed on 
other species of sober tints. 
Secondly, bright colours may direct the attention of an 
enemy towards some specially defended part, such as the 
bundles of poisonous hairs in some caterpillars, or towards 
some non-vital part, as the “ eyes” in the wings of certain 
butterflies. 
Thirdly, prominent colour enables individuals of the same 
species to recognise and follow each other ; such is the white 
tail in rabbits. 
(8.) The third division is that of epigamic colours, or those 
displayed in courtship; they are generally confined to the 
male. The bright and beautiful colours of many butterflies 
and birds, often associated in the latter with plumes and 
variously modified feathers, are examples; the peacock is a 
good instance. 
The external colours of animals, therefore, are, it is 
generally believed, of use either for concealing or calling 
attention to their owners, in which case the degree of perfec¬ 
tion present is due to the action of natural selection; or, when 
the colours are present in one sex only, they are of sexual 
significance, and are the result of selection by the opposite 
sex. 
In the latest contribution to the subject, “Animal 
Coloration,” by Mr. Frank E. Beddard, the author, who is 
the prosector to the Zoological Society, gives an account, with 
