80 MIMICRY AMONGST THE LEPIDOPTERA. 



have, in this respect, the greatest similarity with Euchelia 

 jacobea'j Syntomis pliegca with Zyycena ephialtes^ Danais 

 chrysippus with Diadema boliua, female, Datials archippna 

 Avith Diadema dlstppiis, Pleris pyrrha with certain Heli- 

 conii^ Ncmeohms lucina with Melitwa^ etc. That which is 

 still more remarkable is, that beyond the analogy of colour 

 and design. Nature has given to these species the same 

 habitat, and has created them side by side with one an- 

 other." He goes on to mention the analogy in appearance 

 between certain of the diurnal and nocturnal Lcpidoptera^ 

 also between many of the Lcpidoptera and insects of other 

 orders, such as the similarity between many of the Sesiidoi 

 and the Acideate Ilymcnoptcra^ so familiar to English 

 entomologists. Thus far, however, little more than the 

 bare facts had been noticed ; the material for theorizing 

 was at hand, it remained for some observer to collect it 

 and to find the clue. 



This honour belongs to Bates, who, in the silence of the 

 South American forest, thought out the theory of Insect 

 Mimicry, which he gave to the world in his book, entitled 

 '• The Naturalist on the River Amazons." At Villa Nova 

 he found an exceedingly handsome butterfly, Ayr las phal- 

 cedou, greatly resembling another, also found there, Calll' 

 tfiea leprieurii. Also, on the Upper Amazons he noticed a 

 totally distinct species of Ayrias, mimicking still more 

 closely another CalUthea ; both insects being peculiar to the 

 district where they are found flying together. His reason- 

 ing upon this fact we will give as far as possible in his own 

 words : " Resemblances of this nature are very numerous 

 in the insect world. I was much struck with them in the 

 course of my travels, especially when, on removing from one 

 district to another, local varieties of certain species were 

 found, accompanied by local varieties of the species which 



