CHAPTER VI 



MIMICRY RINGS" 



Having reviewed briefly some of the most striking 

 phenomena of what has been termed mimicry, we 

 may now inquire whether there are good grounds 

 for supposing that these resemblances have been 

 brought about through the operation of natural 

 selection or whether they are due to some other cause. 

 If we propose to offer an explanation in terms of 

 natural selection we are thereby committed to the 

 view that these resemblances are of the nature of 

 adaptation. For unless we grant this we cannot 

 suppose that natural selection has had anything to 

 do either with their origin or with their survival. 

 Granting then for the present the adaptational nature 

 of these mimetic resemblances, we may attempt to 

 deduce from them what we can as to the mode of 

 operation of natural selection. In doing so we shall 

 bear in mind what may be called the two extreme 

 views : viz. (a) that the resemblance has been brought 

 about through the gradual accumulation of very 

 numerous small variations in the right direction through 

 the operation of natural selection, and (b) that the 

 mimetic form came into being as a sudden sport or 



