in PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCES AMONG ANIMALS 45 



they were generally searched for in vain, for while gazing 

 intently at the very spot where one had disappeared, it would 

 often suddenly dart out, and again vanish twenty or fifty 

 yards farther on. On one or two occasions the insect was 

 detected reposing, and it could then be seen how completely 

 it assimilates itself to the surrounding leaves. It sits on a 

 nearly upright twig, the wings fitting closely back to back, 

 concealing the antennae and head, which are drawn up between 

 their bases. The little tails of the hind wing touch the 

 branch, and form a perfect stalk to the leaf, which is sup- 

 ported in its place by the claws of the middle pair of feet, 

 which are slender and inconspicuous. The irregular outline of 

 the wings gives exactly the perspective effect of a shrivelled 

 leaf. We thus have size, colour, form, markings, and habits 

 all combining together to produce a disguise which may be 

 said to be absolutely perfect ; and the protection which it 

 affords is sufficiently indicated by the abundance of the in- 

 dividuals that possess it. 



The Rev. Joseph Greene has called attention to the strik- 

 ing harmony between the colours of those British moths 

 which are on the wing in autumn and winter, and the prevail- 

 ing tints of nature at those seasons. In autumn various 

 shades of yellow and brown prevail, and he shows that out of 

 fifty-two species that fly at this season, no less than forty-two 

 are of corresponding colours. Orgyia antiqua, 0. gonostigma, 

 the genera Xanthia, Glaea, and Ennomos are examples. In 

 winter, gray and silvery tints prevail, and the genus Chematobia 

 and several species of Hybernia which fly during this season 

 are of corresponding hues. No doubt if the habits of moths 

 in a state of nature were more closely observed, we should 

 find many cases of special protective resemblance. A few 

 such have already been noticed. Agriopis aprilina, Acronycta 

 psi, and many other moths which rest during the day on the 

 north side of the trunks of trees, can with difficulty be dis- 

 tinguished from the gray and green lichens that cover them. 

 The lappet moth (Gastropacha querci) closely resembles both 

 in shape and colour a brown dry leaf; and the well-known 

 buff-tip moth, when at rest, is like the broken end of a lichen- 

 covered branch. There are some of the small moths which 

 exactly resemble the dung of birds dropped on leaves, and on 



