MEANS OF PROTECTION. 39 
Gold Tails (Porthesia Auriflua) and Vapourers (Orgyia Antiqua) 
possess several tufts of hairs on the top of the body. When attacked 
they place the head underneath and present these hairs to their eet 
If these are seized they readily come out. This decidedly would not 
be pleasant to anything, which instead of a bite out of the caterpillar’s 
back received only a mouthful of hairs, which were not easy to get 
rid of, and instead of gratifying the palate only tickle it. 
Hairs also serve as a protection when the caterpillar falls. Most 
noticeably perhaps in the case of the Large Tiger Moth (Arctia Caja) 
which when falling curls up, and the bump is received on the long 
hairs which break the force of the shock. 
The question has been asked, “Have the spines of the caterpillars 
of the Vanessz any protective influence against nettle stings?” I do 
not think so, for I have seen the caterpillars of the Peacock Butterfly 
‘Vanessa Io) place their hind feet, which cannot be said to be in any 
way protected by spines, on the sharp points of the hairs of the nettle 
leaves without any sign of discomfort or pain. The spines on the 
Vanesse are exactly like the hairs on the nettles. 
The Wooly Bear (Arctia Caja) is not protected by spines, but the 
hairs are very much thicker, and form a better protection. 
Also I have kept other caterpillars in the same case as the Peacock 
or Small Tortoishell, and have not noticed them suffer from nettle 
stings. 
Sea Anemones and Jelly Fish are armed with minute threads 
called cnidz, which produce the stinging. The former can also seiniat 
out water. 
Limpets can fix themselves firmly down to the rock by means of 
mucus secreted in the foot. 
The bristles of the Bearded Mussel (Mytilus barbatus) would serve 
to protect it if a larger animal tried to devour the contents of the shell. 
The Gurnet is not protectively coloured to harmonise with its sur- 
roundings, but is defended by spines pointing backward towards the 
tail, which is the point first seized by a larger fish, so that the spines 
would stick in its throat. 
I have given these instances, all of which I myself have observed 
to show how valuable a part Protective Colouration plays in Raiere 
Several other instances could be brought forward, but this sauce 
is limited to personal observation. Some of the examples may seem 
to be out of their places, but it is decidedly puzzling to know where 
to put some insects, whether protective colouration or habit is more 
used. 
