6o6 



Color and Pattern and their Uses 



tip of llic body which has a most formidable appearance, but is, as a matter 

 of fact, not at all a weapon of defence, being quite harmless. Numerous 

 stingless insects when disturbed wave about the hind part of the body or 

 curl it over or under much as stinging insects do, and seem to be threatening 

 to sting. The striking eye-spots of many insects are believed by some 

 entomologists to be of the nature of terrifying markings. Marshall tried 

 feeding baboons a full-grown larva (about 7 in. long) of the sphin.\-moth, 



Fig. 792. — Larv.1 of the pen-marked sphinx-moth, Sphinx chersis, showing threatening 

 attitude, (.^ftcr Comstock.) 



Chcrrocampa osiris. The larva has large strongly colored eye-spots and 

 is "remarkably snake-like, the general coloring somewhat recalling that 

 of the common puff-adder, Bitis arielans. The female baboon ran forward 

 expecting a titbit, but when she saw what I had brought she flicked it out 

 of my hand on to the ground, at the same time jumping back suspiciously, 

 she then approached it very cautiously, and after peering carefully at it from 

 the distance of about a foot she withdrew in alarm, being clearly much 

 impressed by the large blue eye-like markings. The male baboon, which 

 has a much more nervous temperament, had meanwhile remained at a 

 distance surveying the proceedings, so I picked up a caterpillar and brought 



