PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCES, AND MIMICRY 9Qy1 
insects are known, but not many. The conspicuously 
marked venomous coral-snake or coralillos (Hlaps) is mim- 
icked by certain non-venomous snakes called king-snakes 
(Lampropeltis, Osceola). The pattern of red and black 
bands surrounding the cylindrical body is perfectly imi- 
tated. But whether this is true mimicry brought about 
for purposes of protection may be doubted. Instances 
among birds have been described, and a single case has 
been recorded in the class of mammals. But it is among 
the insects that the best attested instances occur. The 
simple fact of the close resemblance of two widely related 
animals can not be taken to prove the existence of mimicry. 
Two animals may both come to resemble some particular 
part in their common environment and thus to resemble 
closely each other. Here we have simply two instances 
of special protective resemblance, and not an instance of 
mimicry. The student of zodlogy will do well to watch 
sharply for examples of protective resemblance or mimicry, 
for but few of the instances that undoubtedly exist are as 
yet known. , 
113. Protective resemblances and mimicry most common 
among insects —The large majority of the preceding exam- 
ples have been taken from among the insects. This is 
explained by the fact that the phenomena of protective 
resemblances and mimicry have been studied especially 
among insects; the theory of mimicry was worked out 
chiefly from the observation and study of the colors and 
markings of insects and of the economy of insect life. 
Why protective resemblances and mimicry among insects 
have been chiefly studied is because these conditions are 
specially common among insects. The great class Insecta 
includes more than two thirds of all the known living 
species of animals. The struggle for existence among the 
insects is especially severe and bitter. All kinds of “shifts 
for a living” are pushed to extremes; and as insect colors 
and patterns are especially varied and conspicuous, it is 
