MIMICRY. 



79 



An instance of mimicry is shown in Fig. 25. Certain 

 brightly coloured butterflies {Danais) are of acrid taste 

 and hence secure immunity from foes. Other butterflies 

 {Hypolimnas)^ by closely imitating their coloration, share in 

 the same immunity although themselves not endowed with 

 the acrid taste. In this instance the mimicry is confined to 

 the female sex. Some common flies in a similar manner 

 mimic the colour and manner of wasps, and hence in- 

 directly make capital out of the wasp's sting. 



In a very general way coloration in the animal 

 kingdom is supposed to either secure concealment to its 

 possessor by harmony with its surroundings or immunity 

 from attack to its armed possessor by a warning display 

 of bright tints, .but with our present knowledge there appear 

 to be numerous unexplained exceptions. 



Fig. 26.— An Example of Protective Resemblance. 



The'common British Orange-tip Butterfly. The upper surface is white, with 

 a large, orange patch on each wing. The mottled green and white under-surface 

 is seen in the figure. 



