Animal coloration : an account of the principal facts and theories relating to the colours and markings of animals / by Frank E. Beddard.

  • Beddard Frank E. (Frank Evers), 1858-1925.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Animal coloration : an account of the principal facts and theories relating to the colours and markings of animals / by Frank E. Beddard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    The study of the development of animals always shows, with more or less clearness, an epitome of the history of the development of the race : every animal, as it has been put, is compelled to climb up its own genealogical tree. The facts that have been mentioned about the (learwings can hardly be explained, except on the hypothesis that they have taken their origin from moths with fully scaled wings; and the further inference is probable that the Bee Olearwings have more recently lost their scales than some of the others. This probability is perhaps increased by the resemblance which the larva of S. homhyliformis bears to a Sphinx larva, while the larva of S. tipidifonnis is different; but, after all, we do not know positively whether the internal feeding-larva might not l)e the older. The advocates for explaining the facts of mimicry by a need for jjrotection experienced by the mimicking insects could point to Mr. Poulton's experiment with -S'. homhyliformis and 8. bembeciformis as being more conclusive than they at first appear. The fact that S. bombyliformis was eaten without hesitation, and that S. hembexiformis created a suspicion iu the lizard's mind, seem to indicate a considerable imperfection in the resemblance. In the detailed record of his experiments,* Mr. Poulton suggested that the resemblance to a bee or other stinging Hymenopteron shown by 8. fiwiformis is ])ossibly to be regarded as a remnant of a former more perfect mimicry, reliance being now placed on powerful flight and concealment during rest. He admits that the instance is a difliculty in the way of the theory. However, remembering the facts of de- velopment, this particular difficulty almost disappears. Seeing that the loss of the scales in the Bee Hawk moth is more recent than the loss of scales in the Hornet Clearwing, it is * Proc. Zuol. Sue, 1887.
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