288 Scientific Intelligence. 
forests. 1 was never able to distinguish the Leptalides from the species they 
imitated, although they belong to a family totally different in eee and 
osis from the Helconide, without rey de them closely 
capture. They fly i in the same parts of the forest, and g enerally ig cunre 
with the species they mimic. I have already given an eee lone 
modifications to which the Heliconide are subject. It is a ee ee oF cir- 
cumstance ote: es races or species of counterfeiting groups ac- 
company these local forms. In some cases I found proof that such species 
are woaee vi slain to place to suit the peculiar forms of Heliconide there 
stati 
The details in evidence of this are fully explained and illustrated by 
plates. Nothing can be more curious. The Jthomie imitated are ex- 
cessively numerous in individuals; the imitating Leptalides are rare, not 
more than one to a thousand of the other. The latter has not been 
found in any sihisr district or country than in ihisae inhabited by the 
Ithomie which they counterfeit. The resemblance is often carri 
minutiz, such as the color of the antennz and the spotting of the abdo- 
en. Not only are the Heliconide thus imitated; some of them are 
selves imitators, i. e., they counterfeit each other, species belonging 
to — genera having been confounded, owing to their close resem- 
egret and marking. 
mitative resemblances, of which hundreds of instances could be 
i are re fall of interest, and fill us with the greater astonishment the closer 
we investigate them; for some show a minute and palpably intentional like- 
ness which is perfectly staggering. I have sm that those features of the 
portrait are most attended to in nature which produce the most effective de- 
ception when the insects are seen in nature.” 
Similar imitations are said to occur in the Old World, in other families 
of Butterflies and Moths; ; but no instance is known of a tropical s species 
of these Cuckoo hats aa flies, which all wore the livery of working 
aliar to the country.” Mr. W ses a noticed two similar and 
be og striking instances of mimicry in 
, a8 to the final cause of these saardale peeing: 
“When we see a species of Moth which frequents flow a day 
wearing the appearance of a Wasp, we feel compelled to infer as agi imita- 
tion is intended to protect the otherwise ce insect by deceiving in- 
sectivorous animals which persecute the moth amd avoid the wasp. May not 
the Heliconide dress serve the same purpose to the Leptalis? Is it not prob- 
able, seeing the excessive abundance of the one species, and the fe wness of 
oe other, ee the Heticonide is free from the persecution to which the Lep- 
is is 
es. ‘elieve th that the specific mimetic analogies exhibited in connection with 
nomena of precisely the same nature as 
Sie are assimilated in superficial appear 
bstances on Piesiy the bark amongst 1 
of the nt o 
produced 
ae a 
