340 



Biology in America 



Mimicry op the Monarch (left) by the Viceroy Butterfly (right) 

 Pliotos from water color drfiwings by Mrs. Edith Eicker. From Bulle- 

 tin University of Montana, Biological Series No. 5. 



white, and the coral reef fish of the tropics with their- ''coats 

 of iiiaiiy colors," all seem designed to attract, rather than de- 

 tract attention. To explain such facts as these a new theory 

 was necessary, and so Wallace suggested that these conspicu- 

 ous colors were developed as a danger signal to the ene- 

 mies of their possessors, warning them of an unpleasant taste, 

 or odor, or other disagreeable feature pertaining to the lat- 



Bumblebee (left) Mimicked by Fly (right) 



Photos from water color drawings by Mrs. Edith Eicker. 

 Bulletin University of Montana, ^Biological Series No. 5. 



From 



ter. Thus, according to the theory, the black and white 

 stripes of the skunk serve as a pictorial warning to his ene- 

 mies to stop, look and sniff' before crossing his track. This 

 theory is known as that of warning color. 



One of the most remarkable of color phenomena in ani- 

 mals is that known as mimicry. In some cases there occurs 

 a resemblance so close as to amount almost to identity be- 

 tween two species belonging to totally distinct genera, fam- 



