410 



Mr. G. A. K. Marshall on 



In my paper "Tlie Experiiuuutal Proof of the Protective 

 Value of Colour ami Markings in Insects in Reference to 

 their Vertebrate Kueniies," Proc. Zool. Soc, 1887, p. I'Jl, 

 I published a Table (A) of the various combinations of 

 colours of conspicuous insects. Section III of Table A, 

 on pp. 232, 233, contained the combinations of black and 

 yellow and of yellow and black ; under the former was 

 placed the pupa of Abraxas grossidariata and several 

 Hymenoptera Aculeata, etc., under the latter the larva 

 oi EiLcliclia jacohxm and other species. Another Table (B) 

 groupetl conspicuous insects according to their patterns. 

 Section I of Table P, on p. 230, is as follows: — 



I.—Bing Pattern. 



Patteru developed 

 on abdominal 

 seguieiittj. 



Developed on whole 

 length of body. 



Puiia of A. (jrossulariata. 

 Imago of l^cspa, Nomada, 

 and Bomhuft. 

 Larva of E. JacobxiV. 



Alternating rings 

 of yelluw and 

 black. 



The following sentences refer to this very section of 

 Table B : — " There is probably in some cases a certain 

 amount of true mimicry in the ac([uisition of patterns and 

 colours. Thus it is more than probable (as has been 

 previously suggested by other observers) that the species 

 rendered conspicuous by alternate rings of black and 

 yellow gain great advantages from the justly respected 

 appearance of hornets and wasps. It must not be for- 

 gotten, however, that the latter forms also probably gain 

 to some extent by the greater publicity which follows 

 from the resemblance " (pp. 235, 238). Furthermore in 

 18*J0 the same conclusions were re-stated in almost the 

 same words, save that the species indicated in Table B, 

 Section I, are here introduced into the text : — " Thus it is 

 more than probable that the species marked by alternate 

 rings of black and yellow (including the chrysalis of 

 the Magpie Moth and the caterpillar of the Cinnabar 

 Moth) gain considerable advantages, etc." (" Colours of 

 Animals," London, p. 180). 



It is hardly necessary to point out that the resemblance 

 to a wasp is no evidence of palatability, any more than the 

 resemblance, which is often strongly marked, in the same 

 district between wasps of different genera and between 



