BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



33* 



wings folded back against the 

 body in roof -like fashion (see 

 spurge hawk moth), may often 

 be seen sitting in broad day- 

 light. They are known as the 

 Burnets (Zygamdce). Their 

 bright colours (mention these 

 more fully) render them very 

 conspicuous. When touched 

 these insects exude from the 

 joints of the antennae and legs 

 drops of a yellow fluid, which 

 are a protective agent, and this 

 also at once explains the reason 

 of their conspicuously-coloured 

 dress, which even from afar pro- 

 claims their unfitness for the 

 palate (see the spotted sala- 

 mander, the ladybird, and 

 other animals equipped with 

 warning colours). Hence, 

 these insects fly also during 

 the day, and are slow and 

 sluggish creatures, which allow them- 

 selves to be taken up by the hand. 



3. The Tiger Moths and Ermines 

 (Arctiidce) are very brightly coloured, 

 of exactly similar habits to the pre- 

 ceding species ; their larvae are covered 



with 

 very 

 long 

 hairs 

 (protec- 

 tion; see 

 the pea- 

 c o c k 

 butter- 

 fly), and 

 hence 

 often 

 spoken 

 of as 



VARIOUS SPECIES OF BURNETS. WOollv 



St., Six-spot Burnet (Zygcenafilipendula), with two of its caterpillars below, , ,, 



and at P the cocoon of a pupa on a clover-stalk. Dears. 



