CURRENT NOTES. 125 



often bear a remarkable resemblance to their surroundings, or to the 

 surface on which they rest; on the other hand there are many moths 

 which are most conspicuous when at rest. For splendid examples of 

 resemblance to surroundings, couimend me to the collar stud lost on 

 the carpet, or a pair of forceps lost on the beach. I have spent many 

 illuminating moments in search of both. I have been an observer of 

 birds for years, and some years ago I started on a campaign to prove 

 that birds did prey on moths and butterflies, but I have found it quite 

 the exception for birds to attack either. The exceptions I have 

 recorded in the Knt. Record, from time to time, and in almost all these 

 instances the insects have been taken when flying. Granted that Tits 

 may take some moths at rest on the trunks (I have never actually seen 

 them do so), I doubt if they look for wings at all, but rather the body, 

 eyes, etc., of the insect, they probably also rely on their beaks. I 

 should say that it is at dusk and at night, when butterflies and moths 

 are most open to the attacks of enemies, such as owls, bats, spiders, 

 earwigs and other creeping things, when their colours and markings 

 can have no protective value whatever. It seems to me the human 

 collector is practically the only species against which they need protec- 

 tion in the daytime. Why is it that F.nbitUa bipnnctaria and (rnophos 

 nbscuraria (which are so much like the ground on which they rest) do 

 not rely on their "protective" colouring, but fly ott' repeatedly at one's 

 approach '? We are told that all things in nature have a use. Lobo- 

 phora rarpbiata {lubidata), when freshly emerged, has a beautiful pale- 

 green bloom on it, resembling the green lichen on the birch trunk, yet 

 in a day this is completely bleached by exposure to the light, the moth 

 then resembling the silver birch trunk on which it rests. Now what 

 causes this green bloom and of what use is it, when the moth, without 

 it, is so like its resting place '? In speaking of moths at rest on old 

 grey fences being conspicuous, I have been met with the remark that 

 fences must not be taken into account as these moths were evolved 

 before fences were in existence. To this I would reply that according 

 to those who believe in " protective resemblance," these moths ought 

 to have been eaten oft" by birds, as pale Amphidasis betularia are sup- 

 posed to have been where var. donbledat/a) ia is now predominant. The 

 latter, by the way, has occurred since fences have been in existence. — 

 C. W. CoLTHRUP, 141, East Pulwich Grove, S.E. 



(CURRENT NOTES AND SHORT NOTICES. 



The Birmingham Photographic Society held its 27th Annual 

 Exhibition from February 24th to March 9th, when a Scientific 

 Section was again included. Mr. H. Main secured a plaque, with a 

 series of photographs showing " Nest-making of I'tilj/desmux ainiidaii- 

 rttMs," and Mr. A. H. Hamm a similar award with a *' Set of 24 

 photographs of Butterflies showing Resting Habits," while certificates 

 were awarded to Mr. A. E. Tonge (2) for '-Life Cycle of Purple 

 Emperor Butterfly " and " Photomicrographs of Eggs of British 

 Butterflies and Moths," to Dr. T. Gray Duncanson " The Birth of the 

 Dragonfly," to Mr. A. W. Dennis for " Common Walnut," and to Mr. 

 C. W. Colthrup for " Set of 25 Photographs showing Resting Attitudes 

 of Moths." 



The Terebrai' of the ( haUistoiicistra (saws, so called, of sawflies) is 



