RESEMBLANCES AMONG ANIMALS, 17 
The second law is, that these resemblances are not 
indiscriminate, but are limited to certain groups, which 
in every case are abundant in species and individuals, 
and can often be ascertained to have some special 
protection. 
The third law is, that the species which resemble 
or “mimic” these dominant groups, are comparatively 
less ahundant in individuals, and are often very rare. 
These laws will be found to hold good, in all the 
cases of true mimicry among various classes of animals 
to which we have now to call the attention of our 
readers. 
\ 
Mimiery among Lepidoptera. 
As it is among butterflies that instances of mimicry 
are most numerous and most striking, an account of 
some of the more prominent examples in this group will 
first be given. There is in South America an extensive 
family of these insects, the Heliconide, which are in 
many respects very remarkable. They are so abundant 
and characteristic in all the woody portions of the 
American tropics, that in almost every locality they 
will be seen more frequently than any other butterflies. 
They are distinguished by very elongate wings, body, 
and antenne, and are exceedingly beautiful and varied 
in their colours ; spots and patches of yellow, red, or 
pure white upon a black, blue, or brown ground, being 
most general. They frequent the forests chiefly, and all 
fly slowly and weakly; yet although they are so conspi- 
cuous, and could certainly be caught by insectivorous 
