vi DEFENCES OF INSECTS 225 



spinners, and the number and variety of insects that 

 visited the blossoms were great. Somewhat later 

 in the year similar, if not identical, kinds were seen 

 on the wild guelder-rose, and on Orchis maculata. 

 Many bushes of the mealy Viburnum were growing 

 close by, but their blossoms were over. The spider 

 on the guelder-rose had reddish-brown spots on the 

 side of the abdomen, but not sufficiently distinct to 

 interfere with the perfection of the disguise. But 

 in the case of the one on Orchis maculata the spots 

 on the sides of its abdomen were large, of a dark 

 red-brown colour, and very sharply defined ; and 

 when he stood in his usual position, with his head 

 downwards, they very clearly resembled in size, 

 shape, relative position, and at a yard's distance 

 even in colour the dark purple pollinia * of the 

 flowers. Though many of these spiders were present 

 on Orchis maculata, not a single one could be dis- 

 covered on the dwarf orchis (O. ustulata), which is 

 much like maculata, but its pollinia are not dark. 

 Mr. Nottidge suggests that as the season advances 

 these spiders change colour, and each successive 

 change specially adapts them for concealment on the 

 blossom of some special plant. 1 Mr. Jenner Weir 2 

 has also seen these spiders (Thomisus citreus) station 

 themselves in the centre of a composite * flower, with 

 their legs expanded like its exterior rays, and some- 

 times in the flowers of orchids, with their legs ex- 

 panded horizontally. Apparently they are capable of 

 destroying even the honey-bee, which he has found 

 dead in their clutches. 



1 Proc, Entom. Soc., 1878, xl., xli. 2 Loc. cit. 



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