10. The case of certain diurnal moths mimicking butterflies appears to be
explicable without the aid of the theory of protective mimicry. When two
species adopt the same method of obtaining food, it not infrequently
happens that a professional likeness springs up between them. Of this the
swifts and swallows afford a striking illustration.
11. As a set-off to the cases where the alleged mimicry is confined to
certain seasons of the year, we may cite the case of the pheasant-tailed
Jaçana (_Hydrophasianus chirurgus_), which in its winter plumage might
easily be mistaken, when on the wing, for the paddy bird or Pond Heron
(_Ardeola grayii_), both being of like size and having a brown back, long
green legs, and white wings. Moreover, they are to be found in the same
localities in India. At the breeding season, however, they are absolutely
different in plumage.
Yet another argument commonly adduced in favour of the theory of
protective mimicry is that local variations of the imitated species are
sometimes followed by the imitator; thus the butterfly _Danais
chrysippus_ shows a white patch on the hind wings in Africa, and this is
followed by its mimic.
But the same thing occurs, quite irrationally, so to speak, among birds.
The peregrine falcon and hobby of Europe are only winter migrants to
India, where they are replaced as residents by the Shaheen (_Falco
peregrinator_) and Indian Hobby (_F. severus_). Both these differ from
the migratory forms by being blacker above and chestnut below, instead of
cream colour. Thus the resemblance occurs in each race. A similar
distinction, as noted by Blyth, exists between the Common Swallow
(_Hirundo rustica_) and the Swallow (_H. tytleri_) of Eastern Asia, the
latter having the whole ventral surface rufous instead of only the
throat. Yet no one will suggest that swallows mimic falcons, or that
there is mimicry between the peregrine and hobby. It is obvious that such
parallel changes occur independently of mimicry.
The Water-rail (_Rallus aquaticus_) and Baillon’s Crake (_Porzana
bailloni_) of Europe are distinguished from their allies of Eastern Asia
by having the sides of the head plain grey, whereas the Eastern Asiatic
forms (_R. indicus_ and _P. pusilla_) have a brown streak along each side
of the face. Here, again, we have an instance of birds of the same family
varying together with geographical distribution.
“Recognition” Colours
One of the prettiest conceits of the Wallaceian school of zoologists is
the theory of recognition markings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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