( ix ) 



they were captured by one collector nearly at the same time, 

 and in one locality. In fact, in the case of the Honduras 

 insects (presented by Col. Swinhoe), examples of several 

 different species and genera had been sent in one set of papers 

 as a single species. Thus in the case of these groups evi- 

 dence was actually forthcoming that the separate species do 

 live together intermingled, and are liable to be confused, at 

 any rate by a human collector. 



The term " homoeochromatism " was criticized on the 

 ground that it was a mistake in science rigidly to exclude 

 theory and interpretation. A theory might be a good guide 

 to discovery, even if it turned out in the end to be imperfect 

 or wrong. And in this case it was contended that the theories 

 of Mimicry and of Warning Colours had by no means been 

 proved to be wrong, but remained as the only hopeful inter- 

 pretation of the facts. 



He also objected to Dr. Dixey's phrase, "reciprocal 

 mimicry," inasmuch as the resemblances alluded to were 

 those of specially defended insects, and not of forms which, 

 being themselves harmless, lived on the reputation of their 

 better defended neighbours, as in mimicry proper. Protective 

 Mimicry had been defined by the speaker as " False Warning 

 or Deceptive Warning Colours " (pseudaposematic), while, 

 according to Dr. Dixey's contention, there was nothing false 

 about the warning colours of the insects described.* 



It was contended that the peculiar local groups, such as 

 those of Ega and the Rio Napo do not offer any difficulty 

 to the theory. The ordinary laws of variation continued to 

 operate after the formation of a group, only in this case the 



* It has since occurred to me that terms accurately descriptive 

 for those who accept the theories of Mimicry and Warning Colours 

 may be obtained by an extension of the terminology proposed by 

 me in 1890 ("The Colours of Animals," pp. 336 et seqq.). In the 

 majority of cases there is reason for the belief that Miillerian 

 groups have been formed by a gradual approximation towards the 

 appearance of some aggressive and abundant species, or towards 

 that of the most prominent general characteristics of several such 

 species belonging to a specially defended section of Lepidoptera, 

 such as the Euploeinte or Acrteinae. Miilleriau groups of this kind — 

 probably by far the commonest — may be said to possess Synaposematic 



