THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. XVIIL] M A E C H, 1885. [No. 262. 



MIMICRY IN INSECTS. 



By Roland Trimen, F.R.S., &c. 



(Concluded from j). ;30). 



I HAVE given various of the more noteworthy instances 

 of protective resemblance to (first) the prevalent general colour 

 of the surroundings ; and (secondly) the colour, form, &c., of 

 particular objects, mineral and vegetable. There remains for 

 brief consideration a third and most interesting group of these 

 resemblances, vh., the cases in which other animals are imitated. 



It is to this class of imitations that the term " mimicry " was 

 first applied by Mr. H. W. Bates; and, although the word 

 has the defect of implying in ordinary usage conscious or voluntary 

 imitation, it has been generally adopted, in default of any better 

 one, to express the actually deceptive likeness of one animal to 

 another, which in all essentials of structure is quite different. 



These mimicries necessarily are of a more limited and special 

 kind than those already treated of, seeing that the only animals 

 to imitate which would be of advantage to others are such as can 

 successfully resist their enemies, or are for some other cause 

 exempt from persecution to a large extent, or can serve as prey 

 if approached under cover of a likeness to themselves. If an 

 unarmed creature can wear the aspect of one widely dreaded for 

 its weapons of offence, or a soft and defenceless animal look as if 

 it were encased in the armour of proof borne by some well- 

 protected neighbour, or some toothsome and eatable being bear 

 to deception the likeness of a malodorous, distasteful, uneatable 



ENTOM. — MARCH, 1885. I 



