APPENDICES 
431 
it (or at least the almost identical Indian form grayi) goes by 
the name of the ‘ invisible bird.’ 
In Telugu . . Gudi konga = ‘ Blind heron.’ 
In Tamil . . Nuli kuruvi = ‘ Blind bird.’ 
“ Owing to paucity of language, the word meaning ‘blind’ 
is also used to express ‘ invisible,’ by transference.” 
[One pertinent question suggests itself. What benefit, after 
all, does the squacco heron secure? None of its congeners 
adopt tricks of concealment or elusive tactics of any kind ; yet 
all flourish equally—the squacco with its perfected scheme of 
colour-protection, the others, “naked and unashamed,” in spot¬ 
less purity of white. What bearing, if any, has colour on the 
well-being of these, or any other creatures? Answers to that 
problem lie beyond the scope of a book concerned mainly 
with facts.] 
A paradox in parallels is afforded by another Sudan bird, 
the white-tailed lapwing ( Vanellus leucurus ), equally colour- 
protected with the squacco, so far as perfect assimilation to 
environment goes, but which has not learnt to appreciate the 
virtue of quiescence, or perhaps may have discarded the lesson ? 
One quality without the other is valueless. If asleep or 
motionless, the keenest eye might overlook a score of these 
drab-hued plovers on the drab bogs they frequent. But never 
are they motionless; the whole company keep on the move, 
snapping at a water-insect here, a slug or snail there; and 
movement gives them away. Inconspicuous as they are on 
the ground, yet on rising these lapwings show nearly all white 
(see Fig. at p. 315)—in which respect also they resemble the 
squacco. 
The deduction follows that this Sudan lapwing—admirably 
adapted as he is for concealment—disdains scientific theory 
and relies upon his own vigilance for safety; also that, in his 
said judgment, he has the concurrence of every other wild 
beast and bird, save only the squacco heron! The latter 
may either be testing a new experiment or, alternatively, 
clinging too long to a safeguard that already all the rest have 
found fallacious. 
If we are to believe this pretty fable about colour- 
protection—to accept its studied fakements as a masterpiece 
