22 



else could it come about but by the operation of Natural Selection ? 

 There is no other answer. As Prof. Poulton has ingeniously 

 remarked ('-Journ. Linn. Soc," xxvi, p. 602), "The supposed direct 

 effect of local forces implies the Hereditary Transmission of 

 Acquired Characters." This would be Lamarckism, which as a 

 theory is dying every day. Although there are many things that 

 we cannot explain hj Natural Selection it is the best theory we 

 have, and Mimicry in its complex no less than in its simple aspects 

 can only be explained rationally by its aid. 



And now it is my pleasant duty to make way for my successor, 

 Mr. A. E. Tonge. That you have made a good choice in your 

 selection for the highest post you have to offer we are all agreed, 

 for he has proved himself to be one of our best scientific 

 lepidopterists, and I shall look forward with pleasure to attending 

 the meetings under his Presidency. 



