102; OXJR INSECT FRIENDS AND FOES 



Amongst the denizens of the insect world that it 

 has been brought to the greatest state of per- 

 fection; and when we consider the extreme 

 fragility and helplessness of the majority of 

 insects, and how they are preyed upon by bird, 

 beast, and even members of their own tribe, the 

 reason of this at once becomes apparent ; for it 

 is obvious that these defenceless creatures must 

 have some means of protection from their in- 

 numerable enemies, if they are to hold their own 

 in the universal struggle for existence. 



Concealment naturally suggests itself as the 

 simplest and most effective way in which these 

 frail creatures can escape the onslaught of their 

 foes, and so gradually, by a process of natural 

 selection, the wonderful phenomena of protective 

 resemblance and mimicry have been evolved ; 

 and it is those insects that have most readily 

 adapted themselves to their environment, that 

 have been most successful in warding off the 

 attacks of their enemies and survived to per- 

 petuate their species. 



Colour plays a most important part in pro- 

 tective resemblance. In the old days the 

 beautiful and varied colouring of insects, birds, 

 and flowers was considered to have no special 

 significance, but simply to have been created to 

 please the eye and beautify the world; but 

 thanks to the researches of Charles Darwin, and 

 the investigation and experiments of such well- 

 known naturalists as Bates, Belt, and Wallace, 

 we now know that colour is a most important 

 factor in nature, and has a direct bearing on the 

 welfare of the insect world. 



