iNsi:( T i»is(irisi;s. 51 



INSECT DISGUISES. 



A LARGE number of the members of the animal creation, 

 especially of the world of insects, wear disguises, the study of 

 which is most interesting on account of its very close bearing 

 upon their history. In all cases of disguise it will be found 

 to be of vital importance to the insect ; and that portion of 

 its structure which is concealed by the disguise often presents 

 a striking contrast to the rest. Our common Avhite butter- 

 flies are familiar but good examples, their colouring being 

 so arranged that not a particle of the very cons})icuous 

 white is exposed when they are asleep, but only the dusky 

 yellowish which colours the under sides of the hind wings and 

 the tips of the fore wings. It may be further observed that this 

 yellowish colour alone is visible only when the creature rests 

 i strictly speaking, and not when it merely settles on a leaf or 

 ' flower on a sunny day — for the wings are then more or less 

 ' open, and the white shows strongly ; but in this case the insect 

 is always thoroughly on the alert, and Avould avoid any aj)- 

 proaching enemy by flight, while in the evening, or on very 

 dull days, they are fast asleep, and, when found, as easy to cap- 

 ture as the plucking of the flower which they resemble. Their 

 disguise is also aided l)y the fastidious care which they may 

 be observed to use, as evening approaches, in choosing their 

 sleeping-places, as they often cliange their places many times 

 before settling down for the night. 



The AiifJwrharis conlamines, or orange-tip, so beautiful 

 as it gaily flutters along the hedgerows on a sunny spring 

 i morning, is most wonderfully protected by tlie colouring of 

 its under surface when it is resting at night on the buds or 

 blossoms of the Antlwiscus si/lvestris, or wild parsley, or some 

 other small white flower, as shown in our coloured j>late. 



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