358 THE PLACE OF MIMICRY 



the individuals of certain burrowing species disappear 

 into their tunnels. 



Episematic markings afford a very good illustration of 

 the subordination of the individual to the community or 

 species which is so evident in nature whenever we look 

 beneath the surface. It is only the superficial observer 

 who sees the triumph of individualism in the sway of 

 Natural Selection. Nevertheless, the danger of Recog- 

 nition Characters is reduced to the lowest possible level. 



The difference between a typical Aposematic Character 

 appealing to enemies, and an Episematic Character 

 intended to assist other individuals of the same species, 

 is well seen when we compare such examples as (i) the 

 large, banner-like white tail, conspicuously contrasted 

 with the black or black and white body, by which the 

 slow-moving skunk warns enemies of its power of emit- 

 ting an intolerable odour ; (2) the small, upturned white 

 tail of the rabbit, only conspicuous when it is likely to be 

 of use, and when its owner is moving, and, if pursued, 

 very rapidly moving towards safety in the burrow. 



It is by no means improbable that the wonderfully 

 exact likeness between closely allied butterflies with 

 Common Warning Colours would tend to confuse the 

 sexes, and that the remarkable differences in the scent- 

 patches of males in certain groups (Euploeini, certain 

 Danaini, Heliconinae *) have been developed in order to 

 facilitate recognition by females of the same species. 2 



III. PSEUDOSEMATIC RESEMBLANCE, OR 

 PROTECTIVE (BATESIAN) AND AGGRES- 

 SIVE MIMICRY: PSEUDAPOSEMATIC AND 

 PSEUDEPISEMATIC RESEMBLANCES. 



Protective and Aggressive Mimicry may be defined as 

 False Warning and Signalling Colours (P seudosematic\ 

 repelling enemies by the deceptive suggestion of some 

 unpleasant or dangerous quality (Pseudaposematic\ or 



1 W. J. Kaye in Proc. Ent. Soc., Lond., 1907, p. xiv. The margin of 

 glistening scales which by its breadth in the males divides the Heliconinae 

 into two sub-groups, is in all probability a scent-producing area. 



* Poulton in Proc. Ent. Soc., Lond., June 5, 1907, p. xl. 



