WARNING COLOURS 
snaps its tongue in and out, and gives vent to a 
threatening blowing sound.’ Further provocation in- 
volves bite or bites; but the lizard is on the whole 
of the general opinion with regard to the tempering of 
valour by discretion ; for it takes as early an oppor- 
tunity as possible of continuing its retreat. The helo- 
derm has a nauseous odour, which it as a rule scatters 
about at night, being as it is nocturnal for the main 
part. Its colour demands some attention. The 
sullen and gloomy aspect of the beast is largely due to 
the pitchy black of its skin relieved, or rather heightened, 
by patches of orange, which orange changes at times 
to a salmon pink. This startling contrast of yellow 
and black is one of those especial plans of coloration 
which have been termed “warning colours.” It is 
exactly paralleled by the variegated salamander of 
Europe, by the wasp and the hornet, and by the cater- 
pillar of the “cinnabar’” moth. All of these last- 
mentioned creatures have some disagreeable habit, such 
as stinging or tasting nasty. Many persons, putting 
twos and twos together, have arrived at the conclusion 
that the vivid and easily recognizable colours are an 
advertisement of this ferocity or inedibility, and may 
be translated into the phrase “Noli me tangere.” 
Nor is this due to a kindly altruism on the part of the 
yellow and black ones. It is simply this; a conflict 
with an enemy would doubtless result in the defeat of 
the enemy, or its poisoning by the nasty taste ; but at 
the same time the salamander or the heloderm would 
get mauled in the gastronomic attempts of the attacking 
bird or reptile. It therefore suggests by its colour 
that to be severely let alone is on the whole the best 
way of procedure. The heloderm eats all kinds of 
things in the animal line, worms, insects, and even eggs. 
It doesn’t appear to be a cannibal, which is saying a 
good deal for a carnivorous reptile. 
Bort 
