20 THE COLOURS OF ANIMALS 



is of no interest to its enemies or prey respectively, 

 or by harmonising with the general effect of its sur- 

 roundings ; the former is Special^ the latter General 

 Resemblance, and both may be Protective or Aggressive, 

 Among the most interesting Special Aggressive JResem- 

 blances are the cases of Alluring Colouring, in which the 

 animal, or some part of it, resembles an object which 

 is attractive to its prey. 



3. Protective and Aggressive Mimicry 



Mimicry is in reality a very important section of 

 Special Resemblance, The animal gains advantage by 

 a superficial resemblance to some other, and generally 

 very different, species which is well known and dreaded 

 because of some unpleasant quality, such as a sting or 

 an offensive taste or smell, &c., or it may even be pro- 

 tected from the animal it resembles : this is Protective 

 Mimicry. When, however, the animal resembles another 

 so as to be able to injure the latter or some other form 

 which accompanies it or is not afraid of it, the Mimicry 

 is Aggressive, Although, strictly speaking. Mimicry 

 should fall under the last heading, it is so important 

 and so different from the other examples of Special 

 Resemblance that it is more convenient to consider it 

 separately. In the complete classification at the end of 

 the book it will be shown in its true position. 



