CHAPTEE X 



WARNING COLOURS 



WE now come to a class of colours with a meaning 

 precisely opposite to that of the large class we have 

 just been considering. The object of the latter is to 

 conceal the possessor from its enemies, the object of 

 the former is to render it as conspicuous as possible. 

 As in other classes of colour, the most familiar and 

 striking illustrations are to be found among insects. 1 



The sharp contrast between most Protective or Aggres- 

 sive Resemblances and Warning Colours 



It must have been obvious to any one interested in 

 natural history that the insects met with during a 

 walk in summer may be arranged in two great groups : 

 those which are extremely difficult to find and excite 

 our wonder by the perfect manner in which they are 

 concealed, and those which at once attract our attention 

 by their startling colours and conspicuous attitudes, 

 the effect being often greatly increased by the habit 



1 Many of the facts and conclusions in this chapter are taken from 

 my paper in the Proc. Zool. Soc. 1887, p. 191. 



