MAYER: COLOR AND COLOR-PATTERNS. 229 



dae are more liable to color-variations than are the larger ones. 

 This is what we should expect, if the theory of mimicry be true ; 

 for large spots are more conspicuous, and therefore their preservation 

 is more important (p. 220). This rule, however, does not hold for 

 the black markings of the wing (p. 222). 



(15) The mathematical chance against five similar and inde- 

 pendent color-sports arising in the genus Melinaea is as 2,880,000 

 to 1. Hence, the five Melinaeas which display the "inner black" 

 as a double spot are probably descended from a single ancestor (p. 

 219). 



(16) The marginal spots of the fore wing in the Danaoid Heli- 

 conidae show a marked tendency to appear either as 2 or 3, or else 

 as 6 or 7 spots (p. 223, Fig. 101). The marginal spots of the hind 

 wing show a marked tendency to appear either as 4 or 5 spots 

 (p. 223, and Fig. 102). 



(17) The 200 species of Papilio in South America display 36 

 distinct colors, while the 450 species of Danaoid Heliconidae exhibit 

 only 15. Hence the numbers of the species and of the colors are 

 almost in inverse ratio in the two groups. This may be explained 

 by the fact, that the Danaoid Heliconidae mimic one another, while 

 the Papilios do not (p. 224). 



(18) The colors are dull upon those portions of the hind wing 

 which are hidden from view by the overlapping fore wing (p. 225). 



(19) There is no lack of individual variability among the species 

 of the Danaoid Heliconidae ; yet the species as a whole vary but 

 little from the two great types of color-pattern represented by 

 Melinaea and Ithomia. In order to account for this remarkable 

 fact I am forced to resort to Fritz Midler's theory of mimicry (p. 

 225). 



