148 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



insects ; but popular attention, I think, has not been directed to 

 our local examples. Take, for instance, the Tawny-shouldered 

 Podargus. As he sits lengthwise on some dry limb, with eyes 

 closed and beak elevated until it is on the same angle as the 

 body, and the whole bird as motionless as if carved in stone, it is 

 difficult to believe that this ungainly object is anything more than a 

 dry limb broken off, and even a careful observer may be deceived. 

 Another instance is noticeable in the Southern Stone Plover, 

 though not to the same extent as in the Podargus ; by choosing a 

 place where its colour harmonizes, together with its habit of 

 keeping rigidly still, and in a peculiar position, it is assimilated to 

 its surroundings to such an extent that it is hardly perceptible. 

 No doubt the Curlew finds its powers of mimicry a great pro- 

 tection, for the Wedge-tailed Eagle is constantly on the alert for 

 its long-legged quarry. But with the different orders of insects 

 this peculiarity is much more strikingly apparent, and of far greater 

 variety. Thus, in the case of one of our large " stick-insects," 

 Phasmidse, the whole insect, both by reason of colour and shape, 

 bears an amazing resemblance to the small branches and leaflets 

 of the tops of trees, upon which it feeds. Again, some kinds of 

 caterpillars greatly resemble their immediate surroundings, notably 

 those which form themselves into an arch or loop when moving. 

 One of the most perfect instances of mimicry that I have observed 

 in caterpillars is a small grey one, about an inch in length, which 

 is an exact counterpart of a portion of dry " Bull-oak " leaf. 

 When resting on these dried leaves I would defy the keenest-eyed 

 bird, to detect its presence, and it was only by seeing these bits 

 of rubbish move that the writer became aware of their real nature. 

 Then, again, we have a small Curculio of a brown colour, with a 

 black spot arranged in a lighter patch at the base of the elytra in 

 such a manner as to form a remarkable likeness to a knot in the 

 branch to which it clings. Of the same nature as this, but with a 

 different object in view, are several small spiders, common in the 

 Mallee districts, and known as " jumpers," from their habit of 

 leaping from point to point, and by which they also secure their 

 prey. The habitat ol these spiders is amongst the dried twigs and 

 rubbish on the ground, and when in their favourite attitude on 

 some dry stick, the unwary sand-fly or gnat will approach within 

 an inch or two, unconscious of the presence of its subtle foe, 

 until a sudden, powerful spring and a sharp bite completes the 

 tragedy. Amongst moths, especially the smaller species, there are 

 several which, on account of their colour, and by their ability to 

 fold their wings close to the bark of the trees upon which they 

 rest, are able to render themselves almost invisible. Many other 

 instances might be mentioned in which these peculiar character- 

 istics are exhibited, but perhaps enough has been said to attract 

 the attention of other observers, and lead to the publication of 

 further notes on the subject. — J. C. Goudie, Birchip, Victoria. 



