382 



THE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA. [Ch. XXI. 



and so much, so that it even deceived the acute senses of 

 the foraging ants ; other species, belonging to a closely- 

 related genus (Pterockroza), imitate leaves in every 

 stage of decay, some being faded- green blotched with 

 yellow ; others, as in the species figured, resemble a 

 brown withered leaf, the resemblance being increased by 

 a transparent hole through both wings that looks like a 

 piece taken out of the leaf. In many butterflies that 

 resemble leaves on the under side of their wings, the 

 wings being raised and closed together when at rest so 

 as to hide the bright colours of the upper surface, there 

 are similar transparent spots that imitate holes ; and 

 others again are jagged at the edge, as if pieces had 

 been taken out of them. Many chrysalides also have 

 mirror-like spots that resemble holes ; and one that I 

 found hanging from the under side of a leaf had a real 

 hole through it, formed by a horn that projected from 

 the thorax and doubled back to the body, leaving a space 

 between. Another insect, of which I. only found two 



ilOSS INSECT. 



specimens, had a wonderful resemblance to a piece of 

 moss, amongst which it concealed itself in the daytime, 



