PKOTECTIVE MIMICRY. 245 



not surprising to find the mimicry less perfect in the one 

 case than in the other. The Bee Hawk moth may not have had 

 time to acquire so close a likeness to its model. 



Mr. Ponlton regards the beetle Clytiis arietis as offering a 

 case of mimicry to some of the smaller wasps: it is banded with 

 bright yellow, and has long, slender, wasp-like legs. " When 

 walking," says Mr. Poulton, " the slender, wasp-like legs are 

 moved in a rapid, somewhat jerky manner, very different from 

 the usual stolid coleopterous stride, but remarkably like the 

 active movements of a wasp." The resemblance is heightened 

 if the beetle be made to sprawl upon its back; when this 



Bee Hawk Moth. 



happens, the legs have a distinctly wasp-like appearance, from 

 their thinness and length. 



Mr. Poulton records no experiments with this beetle ; un- 

 fortunately, I have been only able to experiment with one 

 individual. This was put into a case containing two green 

 lizards: the beetle began to move rapidly in the direction of one 

 of the lizards ; when it got near enough, it was, without any 

 symptom of hesitation on the part of the lizard, snapped up 

 and swallowed; this lizard had a few moments previously eaten 

 a large ground beetle, and had unsuccessfully chased a cock- 

 roach. It was, therefore, presumably in an average state — 

 not dainty through repletion, nor ravenous. 



