some Rest-attitudes of Butterflies, 113 
Intimately bound up with the attitude at rest is the 
question whether or no insects select resting-places of a 
character likely to make the most, so to say, of their 
cryptic colouring. 
Many years ago the late Mr. Geo. Norman and myself 
took a lot of Polia chi, L., at rest close to the hydropathic 
establishment at Forres,and we were much puzzled by the 
fact that while many were taken on whitewashed walls, 
where they were difficult to detect, quite as many were 
found resting on dark tree-trunks and could be easily seen 
at many yards’ distance. 
Mr. Hamm has made some striking observations tending 
to an affirmative answer to this question.* In the Baghi 
Forest, near Simla, I was struck by the way in which the 
conspicuous yellow Zerias hecabe, L., disappeared when it 
settled on a low shrub with oval leaves fading to a yellow 
tint, the rounded form of the wings aiding its concealment. 
But the most convincing case that has come under my own 
observation was a large yellow butterfly (I had no net 
but think it was probably Catopsilia catilla, Cr.) which I 
saw in the garden of the University of Bombay. I saw 
this settle again and again, invariably in a small shrub 
with yellow leaves. The very conspicuous fly would 
vanish suddenly, and it was only after several attempts 
that I succeeded in getting a glimpse of it when settled, so 
strong was the protective resemblance.{ 
In an analogous 8. African case I am able to supply 
fuller details :— 
Eronia cleodora, Hiib., is a common Natal Pierine. Few 
insects are more conspicuous in the net than this beautiful 
fly with its combination of creamy-white, jet black and 
deep yellow, and one might well wonder how it could 
possibly manage to hide itself. I watched it settle once 
upon the ground, and strangely enough it was not con- 
spicuous when its wings were closed and the brilliant 
yellow of the under-side was fully exposed to view. Then 
I twice saw it settle on grass; when the wings were half 
open it was very conspicuous, but when they were closed 
it was far otherwise. Four times I saw specimens go to 
* Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1904, p. lxxv, and Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond., 
1905, p. lxxili, and the interesting discussion following the latter 
paper. 
+ Trans. Ent. Soc, Lond., 1905, p. 69. 
{ Trans. Ent. Soc, Lond., 1905, p. 107. 
