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nydus/Contributions to the Theory of Natural SelectionPublic

This volume collects essays written by Alfred Russel Wallace regarding his independent discovery and development of the theory of natural selection. The author provides corrected and expanded versions of his previous scientific writings to demonstrate the scope and application of his findings.

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Table of Contents

III. MIMICRY, AND OTHER PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCES AMONG ANIMALS.

Mimicry among Beetles.

It may fairly be expected that if these imitations of one creature by another really serve as a protection to weak and decaying species, instances of the same kind will be found among other groups than the Lepidoptera; and such is the case, although they are seldom so prominent and so easily recognised as those already pointed out as occurring in that order. A few very interesting examples may, however, be pointed out in most of the other orders of insects. The Coleoptera or beetles that imitate other Coleoptera of distinct groups are very numerous in tropical countries, and they generally follow the laws already laid down as regulating these phenomena. The insects which

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