Bird-Lore
A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE
DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS
Official Organ of the Audubon Societies
| Vol. III | November—December, 1901 | No. 6 |
Recognition Marks of Birds
BY ERNEST SETON-THOMPSON
Illustrated hy the Author
IN general the markings of animals are believed to be either protective
or directive: that is, designed either to hide the animal, or else
to distinguish it and make it conspicuous or ornamental.
In the bird world we have many illustrations of both kinds of colora-
tion in the same individual, for many species arc protectively colored while
sitting and directively while flying. Or, to put it in another way, the
colors of the upper parts show chiefly when the bird is perching, and
these are protective; the colors of the loiver parts and expanded wings
are directive, and are seen chiefly in flying. All birds with ample wings
and habits of displaying them, bear on them distinctive markings; for
example: Hawks, Owls, Plovers, Gulls, etc. All bird students will recall
the pretty way in which most of the Plovers let the world know who
they are. As soon as they alight, they stand for a moment with both
wings raised straight up to display the beautiful pattern on the wing
linings; a pattern that is quite different in each kind and that is like
the national flag of the species, for it lets friend and foe alike know
what species is displaying it.
On the other hand, birds like the Hummingbird, whose wings move
too rapidly for observation, are without color pattern on the under side.
These markings, no matter which categor they belong to, arc pur on
the bird first of all to be of service to its own kind. That is certain,
as certain as the main truth of evolution; for, as Darwin long ago
stated, if it can be shown that any species has acquired an thing that
is of use only to some other species, then the theory of evolution b
natural selection must fall to the ground.
Hut this ilocs not sa- that an aci|uircii characteristic may not also be
of use to another species. Thus the directive and recognition marks of
the Hawks ami Owls as illustrated on iin plate are, of course, first to
