( exxocixay |) 
Mr. McLacutan: A point that appeared to him to be a 
good deal overlooked in this matter was the possibility that 
two species might go on independently and yet apparently 
-mimic each other by arriving at the same results in their 
modifications. 
Prof. Wetpon, F.R.S.: He did not intend to enter upon 
the details of mimetic resemblances or upon the theories 
which had been put forward, but, speaking as a visitor, he 
would like to take the opportunity, as he did whenever an 
occasion presented itself, of pointing out to entomologists 
that the truth or falsity of these theories was capable of being 
tested to a large extent experimentally, and especially by 
experiments which would give a basis for statistical deter- 
minations, 
Thus, if one took a mimetic species distributed over a 
large area, hommochromatic with one species in one district, 
and with another in another district, such a species on 
theoretical grounds must be variable and susceptible to a 
moderately rapid selective action. 
In any given area, although the examples caught might 
conform fairly closely with a common type, the species must 
still be variable and capable of selection ; if the theories were 
true there should be evidence of continued selective destruc- 
tion, and this could be ascertained by experimental breeding 
on a large scale from eggs of wild individuals. A comparison 
of the examples thus reared with an equal number of wild 
specimens from the same locality would show whether there 
was any greater variability among the bred forms. Assuming 
that sources of error had been excluded, such a result would 
be good evidence of the existence of continued selection 
tending to ensure conformity with the model. 
Mr. J. J. Watxer: He was unable to believe that birds 
were effective agents in causing mimetic resemblances. 
During all his experience as a collector in different parts of 
the world he had never seen a bird pursue and catch a 
butterfly but once. On the other hand, butterflies were often 
eaten when at rest by lizards, small mammals and monkeys. 
Col. Yersury: During his personal experience of many 
years in India and Ceylon he had hardly ever seen a bird 
