RESEMBLANCES AMONG ANIMALS. 79 



the same species. In the case of the Heliconidse, how- 

 ever, we have some direct evidence to the same effect. 

 In the Brazilian forests there are great numbers of in- 

 sectivorous birds as jacamars, trogons, and puffbirds 

 which catch insects on the wing, and that they de- 

 stroy many butterflies is indicated by the fact that the 

 wings of these insects are often found on the ground 

 where their bodies have been devoured. But among 

 these there are no wings of Heliconidse, while those 

 of the large showy Nymphalidse, which have a much 

 swifter flight, are often met with. Again, a gentleman 

 who had recently returned from Brazil stated at a meet- 

 ing of the Entomological Society that he once observed 

 a pair of puffbirds catching butterflies, which they 

 brought to their nest to feed their young ; yet during 

 half an hour they never brought one of the Heliconidse, 

 which were flying lazily about in great numbers, and 

 which they could have captured more easily than any 

 others. It was this circumstance that led Mr. Belt to 

 observe them so long, as he could not understand why 

 the most common insects should be altogether passed 

 by. Mr. Bates also tells us that he never saw them 

 molested by lizards or predacious flies, which often 

 pounce on other butterflies. 



If, therefore, we accept it as highly probable (if not 

 proved) that the Heliconidse are very greatly protected 

 from attack by their peculiar odour and taste, we find it 

 much more easy to understand their chief characteristics 

 their great abundance, their slow flight, their gaudy 

 colours, and the entire absence of protective tints on 



