fa 2 A Notes on Brazilian Entomology. 



group. This caterpillar has long lateral processes, overlapping each other, and 

 imitates in a truly wonderful manner a dry leaflet of the food plant Cassia multi- 

 juga with the apical half gnawed off. Now, when gliding along slowly and 

 smoothly, as Cochliopod larvae are accustomed to do, it has the strange habit of 

 making curious waving movements from side to side, just as a dry leaf moved 

 by the wind. A dry leaf marching in a straightforward manner would be a strange 

 thing, and might rouse the attention of some intelligent bird, whilst it would not 

 look at a leaf moved by the wind. 



Another curious instance is that of the caterpillar of our Brazilian "leaf- 

 butterfly"( Siderone strigosus) ; when very young it feeds on the tips of the lanceo- 

 late leaves of a Casearia, sparing the mid rib, on which it rests. This habit of 

 resting on the denuded ribs of leaves is common to various young caterpillars 

 (Protogoniits, Adelpha, Gyncesia), and they are thus very well protected. When 

 somewhat larger, the caterpillars of Siderone strigosus (and of Siderone Ide, 

 which live on the same plant) bite small pieces from the leaf, fastening them to 

 the mid rib, with their margins rolled in, and the brown colour which these bits 

 of leaf soon assume excellently conceal the small brown caterpillar which sits 

 between them ; at last the full grown larva itself perfectly imitates a rolled dry leaf. 



