rUE UUTTEUFLY 37 



we find between some adult butterflies and dry leaves as seen, 

 for example, in Kallima, a butterflj' of the East Indies (Fig. 3S). 

 The resemblance of the butterfly to the leaf extends even to 

 details, for the clear patches on the wing resemble holes, 

 while little circular markings resemble the patches made by 

 particular kinds of fungi. This resemblance of an animal to 

 inanimate objects in its environment is known as protective 

 resemblance. 



Examples of the species of butterflies which appear to be let 

 alone by birds, owing to their disagreeable odor or acrid taste, 

 are the Danaida?, to which family our " Monarch " belongs.' 

 Closely resembling the Monarch in this country is the "Vice- 

 roy " (Limenitis archippus). This resemblance of the ed- 

 ible A^iceroy to the inecUljle, acrid Monarch is, it is l^eheved, 

 sufficient to deceive even the birds, and thus the Viceroy 

 gains considerable immunity from attack. This resemblance 

 of an edi1)le to an immime species is known as mimicry. 

 The origin of protective resemblance and mimicry are both 

 explained Ijy the theory of Natural Selection, or Darwinism. 

 Since either of them is of great utility to the organism, their 

 possession, even to a shght degree, however accidentally gained, 

 will give their possessor an advantage over its neighbors in 

 the struggle for existence. Consecjuently it will be more apt 

 to survive and transmit its peculiarity to its offspring. By 

 this means an adapted race will arise and crowd out the un- 

 adapted. 



Protective resemblance and mimicry in other animal groups. 

 — Although Lepidoptera afford the best examples of protec- 

 tive coloration and mimicry, these phenomena are not con- 

 fined to this group. Other insects besides the Lepidoptera 



' See Frontispiece. 



