An Australian Bird Book: A Pocket Book for Field UseLeach, John Albert
Science
An Australian Bird Book: A Pocket Book for Field Use
Leach, John Albert
Birds -- Australia
It is noteworthy that these bright markings on the upper surface are,
usually, not visible when the bird is at rest. The white wing patch
folds in, the white rump is covered, while, in a white-tipped tail,
it is usual for the two centre feathers to be plain throughout (see
illustrations of species 313 and 329). The tail is folded, and the
white tips are covered by the two non-white centre feathers. The
introduced Indian Turtle-Dove, common about nearly every city in
Australia, shows the spread-out, white-tipped tail splendidly when
flying. The bird itself is barely visible if it settles in the shade
or on the soil. The Indian Myna, a city bird, has both white wing-patch
and white-tipped tail.
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, immediately 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 objectionable, 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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