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 41 false snake eyes DHJanzen100205.jpg high resolution
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| A satyrid butterfly feeding on remains of a dead bird on the forest floor in Michigan. Imagine that you are a small bird foraging in the dark and shady leaf litter for insects, and you glance up and you see one or more of those eye spots. And imagine that you can see them with just one eye (note that birds look out of the side of the head for the most part, therefore lacking the instant depth perception that you have as a bifocal animal), and therefore have no idea whether it is a small eye close up (snake) or a larger eye (cat) further away. Again, if you pause to contemplate, you are potentially lunch. Not a good idea if you are a bird that anticipates living 10-20 years. | ||
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