36 THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. [CHAP. 



ally, Kallima paralekta. The upper surface of these 

 is very striking and showy, as they are of a large 

 size, and are adorned with a broad band of rich orange 

 on a deep bluish ground. The under-side is very variable 

 in colour, so that out of fifty specimens no two can be 

 found exactly alike, but every one of them will be of 

 some shade of ash, or brown, or ochre, such as are found 

 among dead, dry, or decaying leaves. The apex of the 

 upper wings is produced into an acute point, a very com- 

 mon form in the leaves of tropical shrubs and trees, and 

 the lower wings are also produced into a short narrow 7 

 tail. Between these two points runs a dark curved line 

 exactly representing the midrib of a leaf, and from this 

 radiate on each side a few oblique lines, which serve to 

 indicate the lateral veins of a leaf. These marks are more 

 clearly seen on the outer portion of the base of the wings, 

 and on the inner side towards the middle and apex ; and 

 it is very curious to observe how the usual marginal 

 and transverse striaB of the group are here modified and 

 strengthened so as to become adapted for an imitation of 

 the venation of a leaf." ..." But this resemblance, close 

 as it is, would be of little use if the habits of the insect 

 did not accord with it. If the butterfly sat upon leaves 

 or upon flowers, or opened its wings so as to expose the 

 upper surface, or exposed and moved its head and antennas 

 as many other butterflies do, its disguise would be of little 

 avail. We might be sure, however, from the analogy of 

 many other cases, that the habits of the insect are such 

 as still further to aid its deceptive garb ; but we are not 

 obliged to make any such supposition, since I myself had 

 the good fortune to observe scores of Kallima paralekta 

 in Sumatra, and to capture many of them, and can vouch 



