Cases of Protective Resemblance, Mimicry, etc. 367 



June." I would suggest that the Bruchus mimics the 

 bug, as many bugs are known to be distasteful. This of 

 course requires experimental proof. 



CHRYSOMELID.E. 



The Phytophaga are considered to be all more or less 

 distasteful, and no doubt justly so. Many species have 

 been proved to be so, and the group is mimicked by 

 various orders of beetles throughout the world. They also 

 exhibit synaposematic colours and patterns, both within 

 the group and with other distasteful groups outside. 



Clythra qitadriptmctata, L. 



This beetle is superficially very like a lady-bird ; in fact 

 I consider it to be a mimic of Goccinella distincta, F. Both 

 species pass the earlier stages of their lives in the nest of 

 the wood ant Formica rufa. At the same time Clythra 

 may be distasteful on its own account, and thus provide 

 an example of Mullerian mimicry, a question which I hope 

 to settle this year. 



Timarcha. 



The species of this genus are of a blue-black aposematic 

 colour. They may be seen in the spring in numbers on 

 grassy downs, or in lanes, marching slowly along with 

 deliberate tread. When handled they eject from the 

 mouth a clear blood-red liquid, which no doubt is a means 

 of defence. From this habit they have gained the name 

 of " bloody-nose beetles." 



Melasoma pojmli, L. 



This beetle has a bright blue head and thorax, and red 

 elytra. It has been proved to be distasteful by Professor 

 Weismann, and is quoted by Professor Poulton as an 

 instance of warning colours (Colours of Animals, p. 177). 

 I sent a number of live specimens from Wicken Fen to 

 the Zoological Gardens to be offered to various insect- 

 eaters by Mr. Beddard, who had kindly agreed to conduct 

 such experiments for me. He says, " They were pecked 

 at, but finally refused, though killed, by Shama, Pyed 

 My nab, Laughing Jackass, and Brambling. The Drongo 

 and Graculipica nigrirostris ate several with pleasure." It 



