MIMICRY IN INSECT LIFE. 93 



cage for some time, and have fed it upon a small species of butterfly 

 that happens to be very abundant in the immediate neighbourhood — 

 a species that is ornamented with several conspicuous eye-spots. 

 I have noticed that while one of these butterflies is walking quietly 

 about the cage, when its markings are clearly visible, the mantis 

 seems to be afraid of it : but as soon as it commences to flutter and 

 the markings are obscured by the rapid movement of the wings, it 

 is promptly seized and devoured. 



The caterpillars of many of our large " Hawk Moths " show a pair 

 of large and brilliantly coloured false eyes on the front part of the 

 body that gives them a very alert and formidable appearance. These 

 markings must be distinctly protective. 



{Fig. 9.) Akin to this form of protection is that in which the 

 markings simulate a sham head at the opposite end of the body, 

 while the real head may be much less conspicuous than the false one. 

 This is found in some small hopping insects, whose principal enemies 

 are the " hunting-spiders " that spin no snare, but stalk their prey, 

 endeavouring to take it unawares and seize it from behind. These 

 hunters would be puzzled — when stalking one of these double- 

 headed creatures — to know which was its blind side, and might be 

 likely to approach it from the wrong end, and so give it timely warn 

 ing of its danger. 



Aggressive mimicry is adopted by predaceous insects, and usually 

 takes the form of some disguise that enables them to approach their 

 prey without alarming it. The disguise at the same time affords 

 the wearer protection from its own enemies. 



AU the disguises that we have seen adopted for protection are 

 repeated for the purposes of aggression. Thus, we find praying 

 mantises that simulate leaves, others that frequent the trunks of 

 trees and resemble lichen-covered bark ; and one peculiar species 

 {Go')igylus gongylodes) with leaf-like body and wings, while just 

 behind its head is a hood with brightly coloured hning that is 

 thought to imitate a flower. This is the species that has already 

 been described as feeding upon small butterflies. It takes its stand 

 on some leafy branch and awaits its opportunity. The head is 

 elevated to display the coloured area. Presently a passing butterfly 

 is attracted by the patch of pink, it approaches in expectation of 

 finding a honey-laden flower, and finds itself seized by a pair of cruel 

 arms arrayed with formidable teeth like a steel rat-trap. " And the 

 subsequent proceedings interested it no more." Tlie juicy body is 

 soon devoured, and the unnutritious wings are dropped. 



There are several small hunting-spiders that have adopted the 

 same kind of manoeuvre. They are of a bright yellow colour, and 

 lurk among the yellow stamens of flowers. From this coign of con- 

 cealment they pounce upon small flies and moths that come to feed 

 at the flower. When insect hunting I have on several occasions 

 been deceived by some moth that appeared to be busily engaged in 



o 7(2)08 



