PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCE, WITH EXAMPLES 



109 



him for a genuine IJombus when on the wing. Similarly, the 

 deception in his humming wings and the hairiness of the thorax 

 carries out the resemblance still further. 



It is during flight that this beetle would be more likely to be 

 attacked by birds. At this time he is protected by a develop- 

 ment of warning colors in his wings and body analogous to 

 that of the bumblebee. On the other hand, while resting on 

 the bark of trees he is protected by the body 

 .. " colors which simulate the background surface. 

 Then again, his nauseous secretion makes him 

 a distasteful object to devour. Tliis conibiried 

 protection, in a word, doubtless assists him from 

 being destroyed in his various wanderings during 

 / \ mIbFH ^^^^- '^^ ^'^ ^^'^ apparent mimicry of the bum- 

 blebee, it may be only a coincidence, but the 

 fact remains that there are resemblances which 

 seem to be demonstrated as favoring such a view.' 



' Eased on diary notes made at Chicago, September, 190-i. 



I 



