Mimicry in Plants and Animals (World University Library, 29) by Wolfgang Wickler; R. D. Martin (trans) - 1968

New York: Mcgraw-Hill, 1968. Paperback. 1978 printing. No ISBN. Very Good+. Interior pristine. Spine and covers tanned. Spine straight, tight, and uncreased. Dust stains to top edge. Not from a library. No remainder mark. Not clipped. 255 pages. With superb drawings and painting by Hermann Kacher: 31 color and 22 B&W.

Many living things survive by looking or behaving like something else. Some edible butterfies resemble inedible ones to deceive predatory birds. Deception may also benefit the predator: the angler fish dangles a lure in front of its mouth which looks like a worm. When a small fish takes a bite at it, the angler fish gobbles it up. Such deception is also practiced by plants, as with the orchid that resembles a female bee so that a male bee will alight on it and effect pollination. The fact that one organism can enjoy a selective advantage by developing some of the identifying characteristics of another species is classic evidence for evolution. This work was the first to show that mimicry is much more widespread than moths and butterflies, stressing that behavior is as important as coloration. It is also the fist work to cover the whole field of the mimetic falsification of signals. Wickler establishes the criteria for a true mimicry system and emphasizes the importance of careful experiment to settle the question in each case.