1877. ] Is Mimiery Due to Natural Selection? 3 
servance of the laws of physiology in its broadest sense. Right 
conduct is based on obedience to physiological and hygienic laws ; 
and let us not forget that all future progress in the higher educa- 
tion of mankind is primarily dependent on the observance of sci- 
entific laws, especially those laid down by the biologist. 
The intellectual and moral progress of man, all that is to 
emancipate him from the gross and materialistic forces of igno- 
rance, bigotry, and prejudice — the outgrowths of the animal pro- 
pensities he has, with little doubt, inherited from the lower orders 
of animals — is codrdinated with his progress in the knowledge 
and application of physical laws. If his remote past is associ- 
ated with reminiscences of the Amphioxus and Ascidians, the one 
lesson derived from a study of past creations and of existing life 
is the hope of a glorious intellectual and moral future for his 
race, and of his increasing capacity for appreciating the Infinite 
Power which, in a way at present unknown to his philosophy, 
guides the material and spiritual forces of the universe, and 
causes them to minister to his highest intellectual and spiritual 
development. 
IS PROTECTIVE MIMICRY DUE TO NATURAL SELEC- 
TION? 
BY ALFRED W. BENNETT. 
| the American Naturalist for September is an abstract of 
an article by that able naturalist, Fritz Miiller, advocating 
the view that the curious phenomena of protective mimicry in 
Lepidoptera can be fully explained by the theory of natural 
selection. Notwithstanding the deference that is due to the 
conclusion of so eminent an observer, I have thought that the 
other side of the question should be heard. _ 
I think it will be generally admitted that when we have a 
series of similar facts oceurring throughout both the animal and 
vegetable kingdoms, an explanation should be sought that will 
cover the whole of these facts, while one which explains a por- 
tion of them only, but is obviously inapplicable to the remainder, — 
should at least be looked on with suspicion and accepted with 
hesitation. Now external resemblances of a most minute kind 
= between widely separated species both of animals and plants are 
oe 
