ANIMAL COLORATION. 



with a number of tentacles on the head, which wave about 

 and attract little fishes into the neighbourhood of the 

 creature's immense mouth. It has been suggested that a 

 little vibratile tag in the mouth of the Terrapin Macro- 

 ch'tumys Temminki serves a similar purpose : but these in- 

 stances do not strictly come within the scope of a book 

 devoted to Animal Colours. 



Bright-coloured patches may also, it is thought, play an 

 important part in diverting the attention of an enemy to the 

 less vital parts of its prey. 



Of such use are the eye-like markings on the wings of 

 the Peacock butterfly, and, Mr. Poulton thinks, the bright- 

 coloured under wings of certain moths like the Red and Yellow 

 Underwings. 



The last-mentioned insects are often captured showing 

 mutilations of the hind wings, implying that they have only 

 just escaped at the expense of these wings. It may be 

 remarked, however, that the reason for this may be not 

 necessarily the bright colour of the hind wings first attracting 

 the attention of the bird. 



The Yellow Underwing when disturbed flies rapidly, and 

 more or less in a straight line. 1 have observed one of these 

 moths hotly pursued by a band of sparrows, who joined in the 

 chase after the moth had got a little start : it must have been 

 a little time before they came up with it ; if the bird made 

 a peck at the moth flying just in front of it, there would 

 be a considerable chance of its touching the hind wings first, 

 whatever their. colour might be. 



It is, moreover, not at all safe to make any such generalisa- 

 tions with regard to eye-like markings, even if it be admitted 

 that those upon the wings of the " Peacock " have the useful 

 function which .has been assigned to them. The John Dory 



