Parasites 



tlon: it is a clumsy pitfall in which novices 

 allow themselves to be caught. Novices, did 

 I say? The greatest experts themselves fall 

 into the trap. One of our masters of ento- 

 mology did me the honour to visit my labora- 

 tory. I was showing my collection of para- 

 sites. One of them, clad in black and yellow, 

 attracted his attention. 



"This," said he, "is obviously a parasite of 

 the Wasps." 



Surprised at the statement, I interposed: 



"By what signs do you know her?" 



"Why look: it's the exact colouring of the 

 Wasp, a mixture of black and yellow. It is 

 a most striking case of mimesis." 



"Just so ; nevertheless, our black-and-yellow 

 friend is a parasite of the Chalicodoma of the 

 Walls, who has nothing in common, either in 

 shape or colour, with the Wasp. This is a 

 Leucospis, not one of whom enters the Wasps' 

 nests." 



"Then mimesis . . . ?" 



"Mimesis is an illusion which we should 

 do well to relegate to oblivion." 



And, with the evidence in front of him, a 

 whole series of conclusive examples, my 

 learned visitor admitted with a good grace 

 209 



