508 MR. H. W. BATES ON THE LEPIDOPTERA 



see a species of Motli which frequents flowers in the daytime wearing the appearance 

 of a Wasp, we feel compelled to infer that the imitation is intended to protect the other- 

 wise defenceless insect by deceiving insectivorous animals, which persecute the Moth, 

 but avoid the Wasp. May not the Heliconide dress serve the same purpose to the 

 Le2^tcilis ? Is it not probable, seeing the excessive abundance of the one species and the 

 fewness of individuals of the other, that the Heliconide is free from the persecution to 

 which the LeiJtalis is subjected ? 



I think it clear that the mutual resemblance in this and other cases cannot be entirely 

 due to similarity of habits or the coincident adaptation of the two analogues to similar 

 physical conditions. This is a very abstruse part of our subject ; for I think the facts of 

 similar variation in two already nearly allied forms do sometimes show that they have 

 been affected in a similar way by physical conditions. A great number of insects are 

 modified in one direction by a seaside habitat. I found, also, the general colours of 

 many widely different species affected in a uniform way in the interior of the South 

 American continent. But this does not produce the specific imitation of one species by 

 another ; it only prepares the way for it. 



It is perhaps true that the causes (to be discussed presently) which produce a close or 

 mimetic analogy cannot operate on forms which have not already a general resemblance, 

 owing to similarity of habits, external conditions, or accidental coincidence. Species or 

 groups which have this kind of resemblance to each other have been called by Dr. Col- 

 lingwood recurrent animal forms. The English Bee-Moths owe the narrow and pointed 

 shapes of their wings, which already approximate them to Bees, to their blood-relationship 

 to the Hawk-Moth family. Their Bee-like size, form, and flight doubtless arise from 

 their Bee-like habits. A close specific analogy between any one of these and a Bee, 

 such as exists between the insects discussed in this memoir, could scarcely be due to an 

 accidental resemblance like that between the Hawk-Moth and a Bee, or to similarity of 

 habits. It would mean an adaptation of the Moth with especial reference to the Bee. 



I believe, therefore, that the specific mimetic analogies exhibited in connexion with 

 the Heliconidce are adaptations — phenomena of precisely the same nature as those in 

 which insects and other beings are assimilated in superficial appearance to the vegetable 

 or inorganic substance on which, or amongst which, they live. The likeness of a Beetle 

 or a Lizard to the bark of the tree on which it crawls cannot be explained as an identical 

 result produced by a common cause acting on the tree and the animal. 



Some of the imitations by insects of inanimate and living objects are very singular, 

 and may be mentioned in this place. Many caterpillars of Moths, but sometimes the 

 cases only which are manufactured and inhabited by the caterpillars, have a most 

 deceptive likeness to dry twigs and other objects. Moths themselves very frequently 

 resemble the bark on which they are found, or have wings coloured and veined like 

 the faUen leaves on which they lie motionless. The accidental general resemblance 

 between the shape of Moths' wings and leaves here gives nature the ground-work 

 for much mimetic analogy. It has been pointed out by Bossier* that the Buff-tip 

 Moth, when at rest, is intended to represent a broken piece of lichen-covered branch, 



* In an article on resemblances between insects and vegetable substances (Wiener Entomol. Monatschrift, 1861, 



