Origin of Different Kinds of Adaptations 359 



assertions of some modern Darwinians, that this imitation 

 has been the result of selection. Until it can be shown that 

 the imitating species is dependent on its close imitation for 

 its existence, the evidence is unconvincing ; and even if, in 

 some cases, this should prove to be the case, it does not 

 follow that natural selection has brought about the result, or 

 even that it is the most plausible explanation that we have 

 to account for the results. The mutation theory gives, in 

 such cases, an equally good explanation, and at the same time 

 avoids some of the difficulties that appear fatal to the selec- 

 tion theory. 



What has been said against the theory of mimicry might 

 be repeated in much stronger terms against the hypothesis 

 of warning colors. 



It seems to me, in this connection, that the imagination 

 of the selectionist has sometimes been allowed to " run 

 wild " ; and while it may be true that in some cases the 

 colors may serve as a signal to the possible enemies of the 

 animal, it seems strange that it has been thought necessary 

 to explain the origin of such colors as the result of natural 

 selection. Indeed, some of these warning colors appear 

 unnecessarily conspicuous for the purpose they have to per- 

 form. In other words, it does not seem plausible that an 

 animal already protected should need to be so conspicuous. 

 If we stop for a moment to consider what an enormous 

 amount of destruction must have occurred, according to 

 Darwin's theory, in order to bring this warning coloration 

 to its supposed state of perfection, we may well hesitate be- 

 fore committing ourselves to such an extreme view. 



That gaudy colors have appeared or been present in ani- 

 mals that are protected in other ways is not improbable, 

 when we consider the role that color plays everywhere in 

 nature. That the presence of such colors may, to a certain 

 limited extent, protect its possessor may be admitted without 

 in any degree supposing that natural selection has directed 



