70 BUTTERFLIES 



Mimicry. Many butterflies escape destruction 

 through mimicking the appearance of uneatable or 

 venomous forms ; for instance, Leptalis, a form allied 

 to the common garden white, mimics the Heliconidce, 

 a widely distinct family, in the shape of its body 

 and wings, in its colour, and even in its habits and 

 mode of flight, so much so that they are difficult to 

 distinguish. They are much rarer than the forms 

 they mimic, and may aptly be compared to the Ass 

 in the Lion's Skin. It is often only the female 

 which mimics, for this has greater need for protec- 

 tion. The deception is indeed often so good that 

 it may deceive not merely an expert naturalist but 

 even the insects themselves, and Fritz Muller says : 

 " I have repeatedly seen the male pursuing the 

 mimicked species till after closely approaching and 

 becoming aware of his error he suddenly returned." 

 Other examples of mimicry are found in the 

 beehawk moth, which mimics the humble bee ; in 

 the clearwing moths, which receive names such 

 as apiforme, vespiforme, from the insects they 

 mimic ; and, among other animals, the harmless 

 snakes mimic the venomous ones. Again, the 

 " devil's coach horse," the beetle with the habit of 

 turning its tail over its back and pretending to have 

 a sting, certainly deceives children and perhaps 

 grown-up people as well. Many other instances of 

 mimicry could be cited ; a certain spider simulates 

 the droppings of birds for instance, and a blue 

 butterfly was actually seen by Wallace resting on 

 what was apparently dung but in reality a spider. 

 Nor is the advantage of the power of mimicry 



