PROTECTIVE MIMICEY 219 



effectual bar to all further inquiry. In this particular 

 case, moreover, the creationist will meet with special 

 difficulties ; for many of the mimicking forms of 

 Leptalis can be shown by a graduated series to be 

 merely varieties of one species ; other mimickers are 

 undoubtedly distinct species, or even distinct genera. 

 So again, some of the mimicked forms can be shown to 

 be merely varieties, but the greater number must be 

 ranked as distinct species. Hence the creationist will 

 have to admit that some of these forms have become 

 imitatory by means of the laws of variation, whilst 

 others he must look at as separately created under 

 their present guise ; he will further have to admit 

 that some have been created in imitation of forms 

 not themselves created as we now see them, but due 

 to the laws of variation ! Professor Agassiz, indeed, 

 would think nothing of this difficulty ; for he believes 

 that not only each species and each variety, but that 

 groups of individuals, though identically the same, 

 when inhabiting distinct countries, have been all 

 separately created in due proportional numbers to the 

 wants of each land. Not many naturalists will be 

 content thus to believe that varieties and individuals 

 have been turned out all ready made, almost as a 

 manufacturer turns out toys, according to the tempo- 

 rary demand of the market.' ^ 



But Mr. Bates's theory was equally important in 



• From a review of Bates's paper by Charles Darwin. — Natural 

 History Review, 1868, p. 219. 



