The Bionomics of South African Insects. 397 



selves, and are most conspicuous, often possessing a 

 liiglily-cliaractoristic warning pattern. Tlicy adopt special 

 warning attitudes, and do not run away when they are 

 attacked (sec p. 510). 



These two families may be perhaps compared to the 

 powerful group of the hawks, which are mimicked by the 

 feeble cuckoos, and yet, when attacked, are themselves 

 swift in flight, but can render a good account of themselves 

 when active defence becomes necessary. 



23. Experimental Evidence of the Value of the 

 Terrifying MarkiN(js in Chcerocampa LARViE. 

 (G. A. K. M.) 

 Salishurp, April 16, 1899. — I offered baboons a full-grown 

 larva (about seven inches long) of Chcerocainpa osiris. The 

 larva is remarkably snake-like, the general colouring some- 

 what recalling that of the common putF-adder (Bitis aric- 

 tans). The female baboon ran forward expecting a tit-bit, 

 but when she saw what I had brought she flicked it out of 

 my hand on to the ground, at the same time jumping 

 back suspiciously ; she then approached it very cautiously, 

 and after peering carefully at it from the distance of 

 about a foot, she withdrew in alarm, being clearly much 

 impressed by the large blue eye-like markings. The male 

 baboon, which has a much more nervous temperament, 

 had meanwhile remained at a distance surveying the 

 proceedings, so I picked up the caterpillar and brought 

 it towards them, but they would not let me approach, and 

 kept running away round and round their pole, so I threw 

 the insect at them. Their fright was ludicrous to see ; 

 with loud cries they jumped aside and clambered up the 

 pole as fast as they could go, into their box, where they 

 sat peering over the edge watching the uncanny object 

 below. After a while the female seemed inclined to descend 

 to investigfate matters aq;ain, but owing to the manner in 



Till 



which they had entangled their ropes she could not descend 

 without the male, and he very emphatically refused to 

 move. On concealing the larva I managed to coax them 

 down again, and then seizing the rope to which the male 

 was tied, I drew him slowly towards me holding up the 

 larva in the other hand ; he simply screamed in abject 

 terror, so I let him go, and they retired to their box. The 

 whole performance was a most remarkable demonstration 

 of the high value of the terrifying colours in these larvae. 



