Protective Resemblance 



363 



Fig. 95. The Dead Leaf Butterfly 



The brightly colored upper surfaces of the wings of the 

 Kallima butterfly of India make the animal conspicuous while 

 in flight. When the insect is at rest, however, the under 

 surfaces are exposed and present a striking resemblance to a 

 dried brown leaf. It seems common sense to suppose that 

 when in this position the insect is likely to be taken for a 

 leaf by possible enemies, and so left unmolested. Observa- 

 tions in the field, however, would indicate that both birds 

 and lizards prey upon the insect in spite of its " protec- 

 tive " appearance. 



In addition to the general form and markings that sug- 

 gest a midrib and principal veins, we find a spot that looks 

 for all the world like a hole made by a fungus or an insect 

 eating through the leaf. It strains the imagination to as- 

 sume that this finishing touch to the protective pattern had 



