1098 THE STORY OF THE UNIVERSE 



It is in a special degree among insects that cases 

 of mimicry are most frequently found. 



Genuine cases of mimicry are not so easily shown 

 to exist among plants. The resemblance between 

 white dead nettle (Lamium album) and the stinging 

 nettle, as well as between other labiates and the sting- 

 ing nettle, may be considered to be a case of real 

 mimicry as defined above. 



The true stinging nettles are avoided by animals, 

 owing to their possession of stinging hairs, which 

 contain an acid fluid capable of causing pain and 

 producing blisters. 



It would be clearly of advantage to another plant 

 to resemble one possessing such defensive armor as 

 the stinging nettle. 



There is another labiate, Ajuga ophrydis of South 

 Africa, mentioned by Mr. Mansel Weale. This 

 labiate closely resembles an orchid, and for this rea- 

 son insects may be induced to visit the flower and thus 

 fertilize it. 



Mr. Worthington Smith, the eminent fungologist, 

 has found three rare British fungi, each accompany- 

 ing common species, which they closely resembled; 

 and one of the common species has a bitter nauseous 

 taste. In this case we have an example of genuine 

 mimicry. 



Dr. Hans Meyer has given in his valuable work, 

 Across East African Glaciers, some very striking in- 

 stances of mimicry. He says: 



"The similarity for the purpose of protection of 

 the majority of the great mammals, i. e., the like- 

 ness of the color of their coats, and partly also of 



