1902.] SPIDERS FROM BORNEO AND SINGAPORE, 253 
mimics which came under my observation—namely, a sphingid larva 
mimicking a snake, a noctuid larva mimicking an ant, a moth 
mimicking a plant-bug—deserve, however, further notice and are 
here described at length. 
i, Mimic. Larva of Cherocampa mydon (Walk.). 
Model. A Snake, e. g. Dendrophis picta (Gm.). 
I must confess that I have always hitherto regarded as somewhat 
fanciful those recorded cases of lepidopterous larvee mimicking 
snakes and other vertebrate animals, though experiments have 
shown that the resemblances, even when imperfect, serve to 
rouse respectful curiosity, if not actual terror, in prospective 
enemies. I was therefore singularly delighted to secure a larva 
whose resemblance to a snake was so startlingly accurate that I 
was for a moment completely deceived. 
The general colour was a dark olive-brown, becoming lighter 
anteriorly: the head, the first and second and the dorsal surface 
of the third and fourth segments were pinkish; at the junction 
of the third and fourth segments on each side was an ocellus, not 
a huge black disc, out of all proportion to the mimicked head, as 
in all the recorded similar examples, but of very nearly the exact 
size of the eye in such a snake as Dendrophis picta: the lower 
border of this was margined with bright gold (the colour of the 
iris In many snakes), giving an upward look and a most malevolent 
cast to the countenance; the black of the ocellus was so intense 
and glossy that an idea of depth was given, and it was difficult to 
believe that one was not looking through a cornea into a pupil. 
Running through the ocellus on each side was a broad black 
stripe exactly as in Dendrophis picta, while a wrinkled fold on 
each side of the lower half of the second, third, and fourth 
segments gave an admirable impression of the division between 
the upper and lower jaws of a snake. Not the least remarkable 
of these extraordinary devices was the flatness of the area bounded 
by the two “eye-stripes” on the dorsal surface of the third and 
fourth segments; this area together with the first and second 
segments were pink, reticulated with fine brown lines and strokes, 
giving an impression of the scutes on a snake’s head; they were 
particularly well-marked on the first and second segments, being 
there more distant and distinct, and looking extremely like the 
divisions between internasal and prefrontal shields. 
When the larva was moving about with the anterior segments 
well expanded, the resemblance to a snake was not so startling, 
but directly 1t was touched the terrifying attitude was assumed, 
the anterior segments being drawn in and the front of the body 
turned towards the aggressor; when, at the same time, the 
posterior part of the body was hidden by leaves the deception 
became complete, and if effective enough to deceive, even 
temporarily, a human being, it must surely be equally effective 
in deterring less highly organized and more timid foes. 
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