1895.] coLotrB,-T.iJaiAl:iONS of a BEETiE. 857 



In the Table the frequency \\'ith which specimens of each colour 

 were taken in cop. is recorded. In each case special care was 

 taken to see that the pair were actually coupled, and none were 

 counted for this purpose unless they remained attached when 

 removed from the bush. It will be seen that the numbers agree 

 very fairly well with those that they should be if the coupling 

 occurred by simple chance, for the number of each colour found 

 coupled bears about the same proportion to the whole number 

 found coupled that would be expected according to the frequency 

 of that colour. 



It is clear that we have here an example of a species whose 

 members exhibit variation in several different respects, and that 

 the variations occur in such a way that the individuals must be 

 conceived as grouped round several subtypical forms. There is 

 thus not one normal for the species but several. Xext, though all 

 are living in the same locality under the same conditions, and 

 though they breed freely together, these various forms are 

 commoner than the intermediates between them '. Upon the 

 significance of such a case I have sufficiently commented else- 

 where ^. 



One point may be of interest to students of the adaptation of the 

 colours of animals to their surroundings, namely the fact that while 

 the red-spotted forms are strikingly conspicuous objects the 

 striped greenish-grey forms resemble so nearly the colour of the 

 twigs of the Spartium that it is impossible not to remark the like- 

 ness. If they were the only form known, the case might well be 

 used as an illustration of a protective coloration. The red-spotted 

 forms present some superficial likeness to the common Lady-bird 

 (C. bipmictata), a creature which exudes an acrid juice, and whose 

 colour has naturally been classed among " warning colours." 

 The Gonioctena does not, so far as I knov/, possess any such 

 irritant properties, but I have no information as to its enemies. 

 As Coccinella hipunctata is not very common on the Spartium, 

 probably no one w-iU suggest that we have here an example of 

 protective mimicry. I may mention, however, that Coccinella 

 seiJtempunctata, the larger scarlet species, occurs in vast quantities 

 mixed with Gonioctena. Whether anyone would consider the 

 resemblance to this species sufficiently close to constitute mimicry, 

 I cannot say. 



Speaking of the excessive variability of the colour of O. decem- 

 punctata and of the no less striking constancy of C. septempimctata, 

 which lives with it, I remarked^ that to ask us to believe that the 

 colour of the one is constant because it matters to the animal, and 

 that the other is variable because it does not matter, is to ask us 

 to abrogate reason. Mr. A. R. Wallace, in a recent article ^, takes 

 exception to this comment, saying that he, for his part, is of this 



^ As was pointed out, this is not true of the block variety. 



2 ' Materials for the Study of Variation,' 1894, pp. 48, 72, &c. 



s L. c. p. .572. 



* ' Fortnightly Review," March 1895, p. 436. 



