THE BOMBYCINE MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



PART II.'' 



I. COLORATION AND PROTECTIVE ATTITUDES OF THE NOTODONTID^. 



COLORATION IN THE BLUtINES. 



The species of this group arc nil more or less protectively colored. Their grayish, brownish 

 hues, with yellowish or sometimes greenish markings, harmonize with the tints of the l)ark of 

 the trunk or bi-anches of trees, whether grown over with lichens or not. In their shape and size, 

 whether at rest or flying, they closely resemble the species of Noctuida?. They differ as a rule, 

 however, in their slower flight, and in resting on the bark or among the leaves of trees, not 

 nestling in grass or low herl)agc. 



There are almost no observations yet made on the protective attitudes of notodontian moths, 

 and the subject needs to be carefully studied. Long and close observations in the held with the 

 aid of the camera are needed before we shall have a satisfactory body of facts, and it is to be 

 hoped that this line of study will be taken up by lepidopterists of future generations. Many 

 observations have doubtless been made by breeders of moths, but not pubhshed. What we have 

 to say is mainly in the line of suggestion. The colors and attitudes of the more typical members 

 of the family, as the species of Notodonta, Pheosia, Lophodonta, etc., when at rest, with their 

 tufts and the consequent production of angles and points, assimilate them with the bark of trees 

 or twigs wich salient parts, buds, and other projecting points. 



Those who have seen species of geometrids, Ingura, etc., at rest, with their tails curled up and 

 their wings partly spread out, will readily understand how the species of Apatelodes. Melanopha, 

 etc., with their tufted abdominal tips, angulated wings, and bars and spots, would tend to conceal 

 them from the prying eyes of birds. 



The species of Melalopha (J/i hidusa and strigosa) sit with the wings folded sharply over 

 the back, with the fore legs held straight out in front, and the tufted tail upcurved. (Monogr. 

 Bombycine Moths, I, p. 131.) 



The pale yellowish hues of Datana and Nadata. the latter with its high dorsal thoracic tuft, 

 assimilate them with yellow and brown leaves. 



Here reference might be made to Professor Poulton's statement that the shape and color of 

 Scolioptery.r lihatrix " forcibly suggest the appearance of a red leaf spotted with a few white 

 bosses of fungoid growth." (Trans. Ent. Soc. London. 1887, p. 308.) 



Hyparp(i:r nurora may be found, like Ehoih>]>Ji<irii iforida. to frequent pink and yellow 

 flowers. 



How the very unusual and conspicuous markings of Edema uJhifronH and of Xerict hiihufata 

 may mimic the dentate edges of leaves or projections of other objects will doubtless be ovontually 

 cleared up. 



The ground shades and tints of the species of Schizura and Heterocampa. with their green 

 and yellowish spots and streaks would, when the moths are resting on lichen-covered bark of 

 their food trees, amply protect them from the observation of birds. This has been pointed out 

 by Riley in the case of Schizura unicornis. "The moth always rests head downward, with the 

 legs all drawn together and its wings folded round the body, which is stretched out at an angle 



*Part 1 of this monograph was published as Memoir 1, Volume VII, of this series of publieations. 



