446 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



peds. Ajuga chamapitys is a mimic of Euphorbia cyparissias, with 

 which it often grows, and which is protected by its acrid juice. 

 The most familiar case, however, is that of the Stinging and the 

 Dead Nettles. They very generally grow together, and, though 

 belonging to quite different families, are so similar that they are 

 constantly mistaken for one another.* But even here caution is 

 necessary in many cases before giving a verdict for mimicry as 

 generally understood. Zopf (1892), in studying the colouring- 

 matter of the fungus Pilobolus, found that a parasite growing on 

 the fungus took up not only the drops of oil, but also the pigment 

 associated with the oil, the result being that parasite and host 

 were similarly coloured.! Poulton has also shown that the green 

 pigment of some caterpillars is derived from the green leaves 

 upon which they live. 



It is to be remembered, however, as Mr. Ridley has remarked, 

 that it is not essential that fruits should be flavoured to our taste 

 in order to induce birds or animals to swallow them. In the 

 Malay Peninsula " the Macaranga capsules, covered with a viscid 

 gum most unpleasant to the mouth, the hot Capsicums, the 

 drupes of the palms (Kentia macarthuri) , the berries of the wild 

 grapes (Cissus spp.), which have a most irritating effect on the 

 mouth, and the poisonous fruits of Sapium, are all highly popular 

 with birds, and even the fruit of Strychnos tieute, Bl., with its in- 

 tensely bitter pulp, is eaten by Civet Cats. A large number of 

 the wild fruits, too, though very astringent, are sometimes eaten 

 by birds or animals. '+ In the North-West Provinces of India, 

 Mr. Silberrard has known Goats to " frequently eat, without any 

 ill-effect, the leaves and green stems of the ' Akaua ' or ' Madar ' 

 (Asclepias or Calotropis gigantea), the milky juice of which is an 

 acrid poison for human beings, and is frequently used as such in 

 infanticide cases. "§ 



Illustrations of Suggested or Probable Mimicry. 

 We do not suggest, or in any sense imply, that the few and 

 scanty instances we have given of " Demonstrated Mimicry" are 

 at all commensurate with the much larger number that could be 



* Sir John Lubbock, ' The Beauties of Nature,' p. 156. 

 f Cf. Miss Newbigin, ' Colour in Nature,' p. 41. 

 + ' Natural Science,' vol. viii. p. 190. 

 § ' Nature,' vol. lix. p. 177. 



