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MIMICRY. 79 
An instance of mimicry is shown in Fig. 25. Certain 
brightly coloured butterflies (Danazs) are of acrid taste 
and hence secure immunity from foes. Other butterflies 
(Aypotimnas), by closely imitating their coloration, share in 
the same immunity although themselves not endowed with 
the acrid taste. In this instance the mimicry is confined to 
the female sex. Some common flies in a similar manner 
mimic the colour and manner of wasps, and hence in- 
directly make capital out of the wasp’s sting. 
In a very general way coloration in the animal 
kingdom is supposed to either secure concealment to its 
possessor by harmony with its surroundings or immunity 
from attack to its armed possessor by a warning display 
of bright tints, but with our present knowledge there appear 
to be numerous unexplained exceptions. 
Fig. 26.—AN EXAMPLE OF PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCE. 
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Thejcommon British Orange-tip Butterfly. The upper surface is white, with 
a large orange patch on each wing. The mottled green and white under-surface 
is seen in the figure. 
