410 Mr. G. A. K. Marshall on 



In my paper "The Experimental Proof of tiie Protective 

 Value of Colour and Markings in Insects in Reference to 

 their Vertebrate Enemies," 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 grossulariata and several 

 Hymenoptera Aculeata, etc., under the latter the larva 

 of A'uchclia JacohcVcV and other species. Another Table (B) 

 grouped conspicuous insects according to their patterns. 

 Section I of Table B, on p. 236, is as follows: — 



I. — Eiiig Pattern. 



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 ace[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 

 1890 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 tlie resemblance 

 to a was}) is no evidence of palatabiliiy, any more than the 

 resemblance, which is often strongly marked, in the same 

 district between wasj)s uf tlifferent genera and between 



