Protective Colouring in Birds

Abstract

WITH reference to the statement in my “Naturalist in Nicaragua,” p. 196, that the macaw “fears no foe,” &c., the well-known geologist, Prof. Gabb, sends me the following information:—“I willingly comply with your request to repeat the statement about the Kukong pung or macaw hawk of Costa Rica. Not having your book by me now I cannot refer to page nor quote your statement exactly. But as I recall it, you speak of the great red and blue macaw as being so well defended as to need no protective colouring, and that no hawk dares attack it. In this you are mistaken. Not only have I seen on several occasions heaps of the unmistakable feathers of the bird in the woods, left in the manner that all woodsmen recognise as hawk's work, but I have the statements of various Indians, not in collusion, confirming each other, and finally I have had the bird pointed out to me (I am not sure but that it may occur in the collection I sent to the Smithsonian). It is a fair-sized hawk of dark colour. It always attacks its prey on the wing, swooping down and disabling it when least able to use its effective weapon. It is well known to the Indians, and its specific name among them indicates its habits—Kukong (macaw) pung (hawk)—in the same manner as the eagle is called sar pung or monkey hawk.”