Packard! INSECTS AS MIMICS. 2^^ 



Bates saj's that a large number of the species of Ileli- 

 couklae "are accompanied in the districts they inhabit by 

 otner species whicli counterfeit them in the way described. 

 The imitators belong to the following groups: — Papilio, 

 Pieris, Euterpe, and Leptalis (family Papilionidse), Proto- 

 gonius (Nymphalid;ie), Ithomeis, Erycinidne, Castnia (Cast- 

 niadae), Dioptis, Pericopis, Ilj'closia and other genera (Bom- 

 bycidae moths). I conclude that the Heliconidie are the 

 objects imitated, because they all have the same family facies, 

 whilst the analogous species are dissimilar to their nearest 

 allies — perverted, as it were, to produce the resemblance 

 from the normal facies of the genus or family to which they 

 severally belong. The resemblance is so close, that it is 

 only after long practice that the true can be distinguished 

 from the counterfeit, when on the wing in their native for- 

 ests. I was never able to distinguish the Leptalides from 

 the species they imitated, although they belong to a family 

 totally different in structure and metamorphosis from the 

 Heliconidne, without examining them closely after capture. 

 They fly in the same .parts of the forests, and generally in 

 company with the species they mimic." 



In the United States we have a similar example, the only 

 one known in this country. The Danmis Disi^^jnis is one of 

 our most common butterflies. It is closely copied by the 

 Limenitis Archippxis (Fig. 226, from Tenney's Zoology), 

 which is unlike in color every otlier known species of its 

 genus. The Archippus enjoj's immunity frf)m the attacks 

 of birds on account of its pungent odor, which is supposed 

 to be disagreeable to them ; hence it is vorj' abundant. Tiie 

 Disippus butterfly, on the other hand, which is inodorous, 

 is supposed to be mistaken by tlic birds for the Archippus, 

 and thus multiplies in as great numbers as the pattern it 

 copies. .Such are the opinions of these distinguished writers. 



It will be noticed that tlie Ileliconidre are regarded by 

 Mr. Bates, and in this respect Mr. Trimen agrees with turn, 



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