RESEMBLANCES AMONG ANIMALS, 69 
-cal modifications might often produce the extinction 
of a race just as it was approaching perfection, and a 
hundred checks of which we can know nothing may 
have retarded the progress towards perfect adaptation ; 
so that we can hardly wonder at. there being so few 
cases in which a completely successful result has been‘ 
attained as shown by the abundance and wide diffusion 
of the creatures so protected. 
Objection that Colour, as being dangerous, should not exist 
in Nature. 
It is as well here to reply to an objection that will 
no doubt occur to many readers—that if protection is 
so useful to all animals, and so easily brought about 
by variation and survival of the fittest, there ought 
to be no conspicuously-coloured creatures ; and they 
will perhaps ask how we account for the brilliant 
birds, and painted snakes, and gorgeous insects, that 
occur abundantly all over the world. It will be advis- 
able to answer this question rather fully, in order that 
we may be prepared to understand the phenomena of 
“mimicry,” which it is the special object of this paper 
to illustrate and explain. 
The slightest observation of the life of animals will 
show us, that they escape from their enemies and 
obtain their food in an infinite number of ways; and 
that their varied habits and instincts are in every case 
adapted to the conditions of their existence. The 
porcupine and the hedgehog have a defensive armour 
that saves them from the attacks of most animals. 
