

LEPIDOPTERA 



ferent Lepidoptera, classed under the head of mimicry. Mimicry 

 This term is rather unfortunate, because it suggests 

 intentional imitation, which is absurd, since the in- 

 sects have no control over their appearance. H. W. 

 Bates, the naturalist already referred to, called atten- 

 tion to mimicry as present among the butterflies of 

 the Amazon region. Certain kinds, owing to their 

 nauseous qualities, are rarely attacked by birds. Others, 

 little related, and differing greatly in structure, re- 

 semble the immune kinds very closely, and so escape, 

 although perfectly edible. This is called Batesian 

 mimicry, to distinguish it from Mullerian mimicry, 

 which was made known by Fritz Miiller. In Mullerian 

 mimicry different inedible species resemble one another, 

 and it is supposed gain an advantage from the resem- 

 blance, because birds which have tasted one and re- 

 jected it will avoid the other at sight. These phe- 

 nomena have given rise to a great deal of discussion, 

 and opinions differ as to their interpretation. It has 

 been pointed out that in several cases the supposed 

 mimics do not fly in the same places as the forms they 

 resemble, and it has been noted that the "protected" 

 species do in fact suffer from the attacks of various 



FIG. 104 a. Agapema anona, a moth of the 

 family Saturniidse, from Arizona. 



FIG. 104 b. Cocoon 

 of Agapema anona. 



