MAYER: COLOR AND COLOR-PATTERNS. 
303 
dae are more liable to color-variations than are the larger ones. 
This is what we should expect, if the theory of mimicry be true; 
for large spots are more conspicuous, and therefore their preservation 
is more important (p. 294). This rule, however, does not hold for 
the black markings of the wing (p. 296). 
(15) The mathematical chance against five similar and inde¬ 
pendent color-sports arising in the genus Melinaea is as 2,830,000 
to 1. Hence, the five Melinaeas which display the “inner black” 
as a double spot are probably descended from a single ancestor (p . 
293). 
(16) The marginal spots of the fore wing in the Danaoid Heli- 
conidae show a marked tendency to appear either as 2 or 3, or else 
as 6 or 7 spots (p. 297, Fig. 101). The marginal spots of the hind 
wing show a marked tendency to appear either as 4 or 5 spots 
(p. 297, and Fig. 102). 
(17) The 200 species of Papilio in South America display 36 
distinct colors, while the 450 species of Danaoid Heliconidae exhibit 
only 15. Hence the numbers of the species and of the colors are 
almost in inverse ratio in the two groups. This may be explained 
by the fact, that the Danaoid Heliconidae mimic one another, while 
the Papilios do not (p. 298). 
(18) The colors are dull upon those portions of the hind wing 
which are hidden from view by the overlapping fore wing (p. 299). 
(19) There is no lack of individual variability among the species 
of the Danaoid Heliconidae; yet the species as a whole vary but 
little from the two great types of color-pattern represented by 
Melinaea and Ithomia. In order to account for this remarkable 
fact I am forced to resort to Fritz Midler’s theory of mimicry (p. 
299). 
