tlie coluurs of BritisJi Caterpillars. 241 



122 species, out of which 68 arc liaiiy or downy; and of 

 these, 48 are marked wdth bhick or grey, 15 brown or 

 brownish, two yellowish-green, one bluish-grey, one striped 

 with yellow and black and one reddish-grey. Of the two 

 yellowish-green hairy species, which might be regarded 

 as exceptions, Z. Lonicercs is marked with black and 

 yellow, and N. albulalis is variable in colour, some speci- 

 mens of the caterpillar being orange. This last species 

 is also marked with black, so that neither of these species 

 can be considered of the green colour, Avhich serves as a 

 protection. Thus, among the moths tabulated, there is 

 not a single hairy species of the usual green colour. On 

 the other hand, there are 50 species wdth black or blackish 

 caterpillars, and of these, 48 are hairy or downy. 



In eleven of our larger moths the caterpillars are more 

 or less marked with red. Of these three are hairy, one is 

 an internal feeder, four have reddish lines, wdiich probal^ly 

 serve for protection by simulating lines of shadow,* and 

 one {D. EitphorhifE) is inedible. Of the remaining two, 

 Calocampa exoleta (not included in the tables) has a red 

 line on the side of the body. The last, D. livuniica, is 

 rare, and I have never seen the caterpillar, but, to judge 

 from figures, the reddish line and spots would render it 

 not more but less conspicuous amongst the low herbage 

 which it frequents. 



Seven species only of our larger moths have any blue ; 

 of these four are hairy, the other three are hawk-moths. 

 In one {A. Atropos) the violet colour of the side stripes 

 certainly renders the insect less conspicuous among the 

 flowers of the potato, on which it feeds. In C. Nerii 

 there are two blue patches, Avhich, both in colour and 

 form, curiously resemble the petals of the periwinkle, on 

 which it feeds. In the third species, C. Povcellus, the 

 bluish spots form the centres of the above-mentioned ocelli. 



Among the Qeometridce the caterpillars are very often 

 brown, and closely resemble bits of stick, the similarity 

 being much increased by the pecidiar attitudes they 

 assume. The large brown caterpillars of certain Spliingidce 

 ai'e night feeders, concealing themselves on the ground by 

 day, and it is remarkable that white species, such as 

 S. Convolvuli, which feed on low plants, turn brown as 

 they increase in age and size ; others, like the Smerbithi, 



* The oblique stripes on the sides of the sphinx larvre may sei'vc a 

 similar piirpcsc. 



