D.—ZOOLOGY. 81 
as a chapter of accidents.’ Well, a nightmare is not uncommon as a 
result of imperfect digestion ! 
The concluding section of the address will be almost entirely devoted 
_ to recent work with a direct bearing on Darwinian evolution—the 
_ researches upon Mimicry and allied subjects undertaken by a band of 
brother naturalists widely scattered over the world. My greatest 
scientific interest and delight have been found in this work, and to it for 
nearly fifty years all available time has been given. The preparation lies 
far back in childhood, for my earliest memories are of living insects ; and 
then at a fortunate period I read Prof. Raphael Meldola’s translation, 
with his valuable notes, of Weismann’s Studies in the Theory of Descent. 
He soon became my dear friend, and for nearly a quarter of a century [ 
_ relied “ probably even more than I am myself aware upon his sympathy 
and help.’ 18 
. I would ask any naturalist who feels inclined to criticise the amount 
of space given to insect-mimicry in this address, to remember the words of 
H. W. Bates—‘ The process by which a mimetic analogy is brought about 
in nature is a problem which involves that of the origin of all species and 
all adaptations.’?° 
The evidence for evolution by Natural Selection to be briefly described 
is in large part associated with the name of Fritz Miiller, the illustrious 
German naturalist of whom Sir Francis Darwin wrote— The correspon- 
dence with Miiller, which continued to the close of my father’s life, was a 
source of very great pleasure to him. My impression is that of all his 
unseen friends, Fritz Miiller was the one for whom he had the strongest 
_regard.’2° These words enable us to realise the special value and interest 
of Darwin’s letters to Fritz Miiller, the noble gift which the British 
_ Association has received within the last few months from Prof. Fairfield 
Osborn. 
_ Many of Fritz Miiller’s letters on insect mimicry and allied subjects 
were sent by Darwin to Prof. Meldola, who communicated the observa- 
tions to the Entomological Society of London,” of which he was an 
Honorary Secretary. 
Whenever I have brought some striking example of insect mimicry to 
‘Sir Ray Lankester, my dear friend and the friend of many here, his com- 
ment was always the same—that it was a convincing proof of evolution 
by Natural Selection, and that he was unable to understand how any 
naturalist could come to a different conclusion. And yet, as we know, 
many have done so and probably many do so still. I hope, therefore, 
that it may be interesting and perhaps convincing to some unbelievers, 
18 Essays on Evolution, p. ix. This work is dedicated to Raphael Meldola. 
9, Ibid., p..511. 
*” Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, London, 1887, vol. iii, p. 37. 
*\ Darwin’s letters to Meldola, including ten referring to Fritz Miiller, are printed 
in Charles Darwin and the Theory of Natural Selection, Poulton, London, 1896. The 
: originals, with many of F. Miiller’s letters, were presented by Prof. Meldola to the 
Hope Library, Oxford Univ. Museum. 
’ 1931 G 
