222 ANIMAL LIFE 



only to be expected that this useful modification of colors 

 and patterns, that results in the striking phenomena of 

 special protective resemblances and mimicry, should be 

 specially widespread and pronounced among insects. More- 

 over, they are mostly deficient in other means of defense, 

 and seem to be the favorite food for many different kinds 

 of animals. Protective resemblance is their best and most 

 widely adopted means of preserving life. 



114. No volition in mimicry. The use of the word mim- 

 icry has been criticised because it suggests the exercise of 

 volition or intent on the part of the mimicking animal. 

 The student should not entertain this conception of mim- 

 icry. In the use of "mimicry" in connection with the 

 phenomena just described, the biologist ascribes to it a 

 technical meaning, which excludes any suggestion of voli- 

 tion or intent on the part of the mimic. Just how such 

 extraordinary and perfect cases of mimicry as shown by 

 Phyllium and Kallima, have come to exist is a problem 

 whose solution is not agreed on by naturalists, but none of 

 them makes volition the will or intent of the animal any 

 part of his proposed solution. Each case of mimicry is the 

 result of a slow and gradual change, through a long series 

 of ancestors. The mimicry may indeed include the adop- 

 tion of certain habits of action which strengthen and make 

 more pronounced the deception of shape and color. But 

 these habits, too, are the result of a long development, and 

 are instinctive or reflex that is, performed without the 

 exercise of volition or reason. 



115. Color; its utility and beauty. The causes of color, 

 and the uses of color in animals and in plants are subjects 

 to which naturalists have paid and are paying much atten- 

 tion. The subject of " protective resemblances and mim- 

 icry" is only one, though one of the most interesting, 

 branches or subordinate subjects of the general theory of 

 the uses of color. Other uses are obvious. Bright colors 

 and markings may serve for the attraction of mates ; thus 



