37 S THE PLACE OF MIMICRY 



Mimicry are seen in the flies of the genus Volucella*, 

 which are enabled to lay their eggs in the nests of 

 Humble-bees, &c, because of their close resemblance 

 to the latter. The larvae of the fly have been supposed 

 to feed upon those of the bee. 



[The larvae of Volucella are probably scavengers, and 

 it is now known that the presence of the flies is not 

 resented. The resemblance is an example of ordinary 

 mimetic likeness to a formidable model, and is rendered 

 all the more effective from the fact that fly and bee are 

 specially associated. 1 Even in cases where Asilid flies 

 are beautiful mimics of their Hymenopterous victims 2 it 

 is improbable that the resemblance is aggressive. The 

 explanation is probably similar to that offered in the case 

 of Volucella. There is little doubt, however, that the 

 following examples are truly Pseudepisematic] 



Examples of Alluring Colouring. An Asiatic lizard 

 (Phrynocephalus wyslaceus*) possesses pink flower-like 

 structures at the corners of its mouth, and it is probable 

 that flies, &c. are thus allured. A Terrapin (Macro- 

 clemmys lemmiiickii*) from the Southern States of 

 America, when hungry, opens its mouth and actively 

 moves the filaments below the anterior end of its tongue. 

 These look like worms moving in a crevice in the rocks, 

 and attract prey. The animal is otherwise perfectly 

 motionless, and resembles a conferva-covered rock. The 

 fish Lophius piscatorius * (the Angler or Fishing- Frog) 

 attracts its prey by a brightly coloured lure placed 

 over its large mouth, the rest of the body being 

 concealed. Certain deep-sea fishes allied to Lophius, 

 (Ceratias bispinosus* \ C. uranoscopus*, &c.) have a 

 phosphorescent lure attractive to the other fish on 

 which they feed. 



[Examples are found among insects, in the flower-like 

 species of Mantidae which attract the other insects forming 

 their prey. The flower-like appearance is undoubtedly 

 Procryptic as well as Pseudepisematic. 3 ] 



1 See Trans. Ent. Soc, Lond., 1904, pp. 663-5. 



2 See ibid., pp. 661-5 '> 1906, p. 378. 



3 See N. Annandale, in Proc. Zool. Soc, Loud., 1900, p. 837, for an 



