COLORATION OF GAME ANMMAI.S. 43 



as is so often staled, the butterfly's aimless flights seem utterly in conflict with 

 the idea of the necessity for these precautionary colours. Once the butterfly leaves 

 its resting-place it flits about in the open, conspicuous to all, and never attempting 

 to keep out of danger. It is, to all appearances, unsuspecting and perfectly 

 indifferent to any foe which may attack it. The greater part of its life, during the 

 sunshine, is spent in flitting about, sunning itself, and flapping its gaudily painted 

 wings. It is difficult, then, to understand how the brief intervals of protected rest 

 on tree-trunks, branches, or twigs can be of such infinite value to these insects 

 as to be the sole cause of such a wonderful display of protective imitation. 



As to the danger of these insects being devoured by birds, I think that this 

 danger has been greatly exaggerated by armchair naturalists. 



It is very seldom, indeed, that I have actually seen a bird take a butterfly. 

 On the few occasions I have witnessed the proceeding it has been after this 

 manner : — 



The bird swoops at the insect, taking, or missing, its body in transit without 

 arresting its flight. The body appears to be gulped down almost immediately, while 

 by the same act the four wings are severed and fall to the ground, or float away in 

 the wind. 



Now, although I have rarely witnessed this occurrence, I am frequently meeting 

 with severed wings lying about. Only a few days ago while travelling along a road 

 I noticed numbers of these severed wings, though chiefly of only two species of 

 butterfly, and I also observed quantities of butterflies about. 



Although one often notices single wings lying about, in many instances all four 

 wings will be seen lying close together. It is thus almost a certainty that the 

 butterflies to which these wings belonged were not taken by birds, but by some 

 animal living on the ground, such as a field-mouse or lizard. Now, if such be the 

 case that the chief enemies of butterflies are field-mice, shrews, and the great variety 

 of lizards which abound in the tropics, and if these animals are wont to catch their 

 prey by sight rather than by smell, the necessity for protective coloration while at rest 

 is obvious. However gaudily coloured are the parts exposed during flight it will 

 not affect their safety from these animals. 



Another point difficult to understand in Nature's scheme is with regard to 

 numbers of short-lived insects, such as among the Neuroptera. Many of these are 

 protected during the comparatively lengthy periods of their transformations, and 

 even the perfect insect is perhaps protectively coloured, and all for what purpose ? 

 One or two short hours of life in the flying stage. Returning to the wealth and 

 variety of colour displayed on the upper sides of the wings of butterflies — has all 



