r.voLUTioM. 27 



in the neck peculiar to apes. In Darwin's " Descent 

 of Man " many striking facts of this nature are 

 noticed. Is there any plausible explanation of these 

 facts except that they show peculiarities of remote 

 ancestors ? 



Mimicry. 



The theory of Evolution is supported by what 

 Wallace calls mimicry. This is the resemblance 

 shown by some animals and plants to ether animals 

 or plants, perhaps very different, or to other natural 

 objects. The *' walking-leaf" insect looks like some 

 vegetable growth, and on the other hand some 

 orchids resemble insects. Insects are found that 

 resemble pieces of bamboo, bits of bark, twigs, and 

 drops of dew, and many animals conform in color to 

 their surroundings, being of a sandy color in the 

 desert or green and brown in the forest. A butter- 

 fly in South America has a strong odor that prevents 

 its being devoured by creatures that eat other butter- 

 flies. There are some very different butterflies that 

 lack this peculiar odor, but which imitate the strong- 

 smelling kind in appearance. 



Natural selection explains these things by suppos- 

 ing that these resemblances, occurring first in slight 

 measure as variations from parent forms, have pre- 

 served the existence of their possessors by assisting 

 their concealment. The insects and animals nearest 

 in color to the leaves, bark, or ground upon which 



