IV—PHENOMENA EXHIBITED BY 
model. The best example of this form of mimicry amongst 
our New Zealand Lepidoptera is Declana glacialis which, 
as Mr. Philpott has pointed out, closely resembles in its 
general appearance the members of the genus: Metacrias. 
There is little doubt that these insects are specially pro- 
tected from the attacks of birds by a nauseous taste, and 
as they inhabit the same localities as D. glacialis it seems 
fairly certain that the resemblance would be of material 
advantage to that species and is a case of true Batesian 
Mimicry. It is also possible that Dasyuris partheniata to 
some extent mimies the general appearance of a Metacrias. 
In 1879, Fritz Miller pointed out, that the approximation 
of large numbers of species of nauseous, or well-armed 
insects, to a common colour pattern, would be of great 
mutual advantage, as young birds would learn to avoid one 
general pattern much quicker than they would if each 
specially protected species had a different pattern. It is 
also equally clear that any mimicking species would benefit 
if it also approximated to the same general colour scheme. 
Henee have arisen those large associations of insects belong- 
ing to different orders, or families, which are now so well- 
known to naturalists, especially in the tropics. All the 
members of these associations superficially resemble each 
other, and are mutually protected by certain species in the 
association having an evil reputation, through the posses- 
sion of a virulent sting, or a nauseous flavour. Such groups 
of insects have been called Miillerian Associations, and the 
class of mimicry existing between their members, Miillerian 
Mimicry. In New Zealand we have a very interesting 
association of small moths, whese wing-markings resemble, 
in a most striking manner, those of a certain section of the 
genus Glyphipteryx, of which Glyphipteryx zelota may be 
regarded as typical. The following species, not in any 
way closely related to Glyphipteryx, may be mentioned as 
conforming to the wing-pattern referred to:—Protosy- 
niuema eratopis, Orthenches. glypharcha, Eugennaea lac- 
quearia, Archyala halisparta, Tinea margaritis, T. fagicola, 
T. accusatrix, T. sphenocosma, T. astraea, T. cymodoce, T. 
aetherea, Astrogenes chrysograpta, Micropardalis dorozena, 
and Sabatinca calliarcha. In all these species the resem- 
blanee is unmistakeable, and the cilia around the apex of 
the fore-wings are, in some cases, specially coloured and 
arranged to increase the resemblance, the actual wing-out- 
line being often quite different to that of a true Glyphip- 
teryx. It seems almost certain that Glyphipteryx is a pro- 
tected group, and in some way distasteful to enemies... I 
have personally found that the flavour of Glyphipteryx 
zelota is like that of castor oil, and all collectors know to 
their cost that species of Glyphipteryx rapidly corrode 
ordinary pins, such corrosion frequently spoiling valuable 
specimens. It is therefore something more than mere con- 
jecture to regard those Lepidoptera resembling Glyphip- 
teryx, as constituting a true Miillerian Association, reeal- 
ling in miniature, one of those larger associations which 
have been proved to exist amongst tropical insects. 
THE LEPIDOPTERA. 21 
Certain general resemblances in colour and wing pat- 
tern, between widely different species, have arisen as the 
result of parallel adaptations, but these are quite distinct 
from true mimicry. 
colouring in several 
We have, for example, the blue-grey 
Noctuids (Aletta griseipennis, A. 
moderata, Physetica caerulea and Melanchra phricias) ; in 
Dichromodes sphacriata and Nanthorhoe orophylla; in 
Crambus xanthogrammus; Scoparia asaleuta and S. 
cataxesta in Gelechia lithodes and Simaethis microlitha, 
each specially adapted for purposes of concealment on 
bluish-grey rocks, or amongst stones; again the banded 
light-brown and _ silvery-white colouring of WSelidosema 
aristarcha and Tortrix torogramma, both so admirably pro- 
tective amongst the fronds of the silver tree-fern (Cya- 
thea dealbata). The vivid black and white colouring of 
Declana atronivea and Izatha  picarella, affords both 
these insects protection amongst black and white lichens, 
besides breaking up the outline of the moth and thus 
inducing invisibility. The mottled brown and white colour- 
ing on the wines of Scoparia aspidota, several species of 
Tortrices, and in most of the members of the genus T'rachy- 
pepla clearly imitate bird droppings and thus efficiently 
protect their possessors from destruction. Again Hrana 
granunosa, species of Chloroclystis, Tatosoma 
agrionata and 7’. tipulata, Hydriomena callichlora, Xan- 
several 
thorhoe beata, Lysiphragma mixochlora, and many 
other species very closely resemble patches of moss, 
and the imitators of dead and dying leaves are too 
numerous to specify. The resemblance between the dif- 
ferent species in all these cases is due to the insects fre- 
quenting the same natural situations. They are protective- 
ly coloured, in a similar manner, for purposes of conceal- 
ment in an identical environment. 
Notwithstanding the pressing exigencies of the 
struggle for existence, which has brought about, through 
natural selection, innumerable adaptations in form and 
colour subservient to the preservation of each species, it is 
clearly evident that, in most eases, beauty is combined with 
utility in a remarkable manner, and this becomes more 
evident the closer we examine the objects of our study. Such 
an insect as Trachypepla ewryleucota which, at a super-- 
ficial glance, resembles in the closest possible manner a small 
bird-dropping, is found, on a closer scrutiny with a lens, 
to possess a wing pattern of considerable complexity and 
great beauty, and similar examples might be multiplied in- 
definitely. The tendency towards beauty, and claborate 
ornamentation and adornment, appears to be followed to the 
utmost limits of safety, and the element of beauty is nearly 
always present in each class of protective or aggressive 
colouring. It is thus practicallY impossible to draw the 
line between ornamental and useful colouring, the two 
always co-existing as far as circumstances permit. The 
upper sides of most butterflies are chiefly ornamental in 
their colouring, the necessary protection being nearly 
always afforded by the pattern on the under side. In the 
ease of birds and butterflies, the male is often, though by no 

