1912.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 281 
THE EXPERIMENTAL METHOD OF TESTING THE EFFICIENCY OF WARNING 
AND CRYPTIC COLORATION IN PROTECTING ANIMALS 
FROM THEIR ENEMIES. 
BY W. L. MCATEE. 
ConTENTS. 
Tntrod Wetionscetitscsecaiesess asesievaznss leuee dynes evacusezaess vesecvomsnsnciuabenua es sauivesaentvenervenmeeiorney 281 
Experiments with Invertebrates (chiefly Insects)... 
Experiments with Vertebrates. a 
ASO fe 0855 ceased sone a abe tee se ea as atin ns Sig tegin oe Senta h gat ne vase aaa Mas 289 
Amphibia: concise tion ce uaaes one lee ee ates s oe 290 
In Countries other than the United States ........ .. 
In the United States... cece ceceeeees ; 
Reptiles... ebdai sie 
Experiments in Asia...... 
Experiments in Europe.... 
Mammals 
Experiments in Europe 
Experiments in Africa.. 
Experiments in Asia......... 
Experiments in America... 
Experiments by Judd and Be ; 
SUMMAry 3s Aone ees cement seals 
INTRODUCTION. 
The selectionist theories regarding the significance and the causes 
of production of the so-called warning, mimicking, and cryptic 
coloration long preceded a knowledge of the food preferences of 
insectivorous animals sufficient to warrant such speculations. In 
fact, this knowledge is still almost entirely lacking for many parts of 
the world—including the Amazon valley, which is the home of the 
brightly colored Heliconiid butterflies and their mimics that sug- 
gested the mimicry theory to H. W. Bates. In 1861, Bates explained 
the numerous cases of mimicry of the butterflies of this family by 
butterflies and moths of at least five other families, by stating that 
the Heliconiide probably are unpalatable to insect enemies, and 
that the others disguised in their dress share this immunity... He 
