BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS AND CICADAS 199 



butterflies of the same family and they likewise seek 

 protection against the dark rock, but they are not so 

 successful in this as is Nytha parisatis. 



Many butterflies bear a close resemblance to the 

 leaves of certain trees and no doubt gain protection 

 thereby. A little butterfly known as Libythea myrrha 

 was certainly a member of this group. This species 

 has its upper surface of a rich brown colour marked 

 with some blotches and streaks of yellow. But when 

 it alights it rests with its wings tightly closed, and then 

 the appearance of the insect both in shape and colour 

 is very similar to a dried leaf. It is a butterfly of 

 swift and erratic flight and is in the habit of settling on 

 the smaller branches of the trees, where it must often 

 escape observation by virtue of its leaf-like form. 

 Indeed I have little doubt that the possession of 

 protective shape and colour must be 'of distinct ad- 

 vantage to this species, since it is one of the few 

 butterflies that I have ever seen attacked by insec- 

 tivorous birds. 



My remarks on protective coloration would be very 

 incomplete if I made no mention of that most striking 

 example of leaf butterflies the Kallima inachus. This 

 butterfly is almost classical, and was brought into 

 special prominence by the researches of Dr. Wallace 

 in Malay. Even in the dried state when preserved in 

 a museum there can be no mistaking the fact that in 

 this insect the principle of protective coloration has 

 been developed to the most refined degree. 



We see it in the shape, the size, the outline of the 

 wings, which is clearly that of the forest foliage ; we see 

 it in their dull brown colour which resembles that of 

 the forest leaves ; on the wings we see the pair of tails 



