Batesian Mimicry 



add that, even as natural selection is supposed to 

 have been the cause of conspicuous colouring in 

 some organisms, so has it caused others to assume 

 intimidating attitudes or emit warning sounds, 

 such as a hiss, when attacked. 



We now come to the third great class of 

 animal colours mimetic colours. Mimicry is 

 of two kinds, known respectively as Batesian 

 and Miillerian mimicry, after their respective 

 discoverers. 



It has been found that some apparently 

 warningly coloured butterflies and other creatures 

 are palatable to insectivorous animals. The 

 explanation given of this is that these showy but 

 edible butterfles " mimic," that is to say, have the 

 appearance of, show a general resemblance to, 

 species which are unpalatable. This is known as 

 Batesian mimicry. " Protective mimicry," writes 

 Professor Poulton (Essays on Evolution, p. 361), 

 " is here defined as an advantageous superficial 

 resemblance of a palatable defenceless form to 

 another that is specially defended so as to be 

 disliked or feared by the majority of enemies 

 of the groups to which both mimic and 

 model belong a resemblance which appeals 

 to the senses of animal enemies . . . but 

 does not extend to deep-seated characters, 

 except when the superficial likeness is affected 

 thereby." 



As Wallace has pointed out, five conditions 



M 177 



