MEANS OF PROTECTION. 37 
Against this argument it may be said that the moths frequently fly 
when there is no wind, so they could not be mistaken for leaves blown 
about ; but it is hard for the eye to follow them in their wild flight 
and harder sull to see them amongst the grass, where they fook 
exactly like a dead leaf. The spots on the upper wings adding to the 
disguise. 
Thus protective colouring is of use when habit with its disguises 
is discovered, and so of no avail. 
‘Together with the Underwing we may mention the Small Heath 
(Canonympha pamphilus), the Small Copper (Polyommatus phlceas) 
and numbers of the smaller moths, which fly into the grass and hide 
among the thickest parts. 
Grasshoppers can change to either green or brown, according to 
the colour of the locality. 
The Stick Caterpillars resemble the twigs of the plant on which 
they feed, — Hawthorn (Crateegus oxyacantha), Yellow Jasmin 
Snowberry Tree (Lycium barbatum), Privet (Ligustrum aideete, 
Currant (Ribes rubrum), and Gooseberry (Ribes eyqeeitleces’. 
Fixing the two pairs of claspers firmly and closely to the twig they 
stand out perfectly stiff for hours at a time. The strain is relieved by 
2 thread of silk fixed to the branch and held by the front legs whence 
it passes to the mouth. 
Larvee about to change to Pupz are protected by burying, or by 
spinning a cocoon. These cocoons are generally formed between 
leaves, or in crevices of bark or wall. Some cocoons formed in the 
crevices of the bark are perfectly impossible to distinguish, formed as 
they are of chewed fragments of wood, till after the moth has emerged. 
‘There are plenty of these cocoons in the bark of the poplars at the 
top of the ground. 
The Puss Moth (Dicranura vinula) makes a cocoon of the sub 
stance which best suits its situation. I had five of these caterpillars 
which were kept in a blue cardboard box. When the time came oe 
them to turn, refusing willow bark, they chewed up bits of cardboard 
and constructed very hard cocoons out of the fragments. Those co- 
coons made of wood are harder, the strength varying of course in 
proportion to the material used. 
The larvee of the Caddis flies make cases out of grains of sand 
with minute shells or bits of stick. These they drag about with them 
only the forepart of the body appearing outside, and all attempts b 
pull them out fail, as hooks at the tail enable them to resist till pulled 
in pieces. 
