n6 OUR INSECT FRIENDS AND FOES 



imitated by other species of their own Order, or 

 by a different type of insect ; and it will always 

 be found that the mimicked beetle either 

 possesses an offensive weapon of some descrip- 

 tion, or is protected by being distasteful, or by 

 the excessive hardness of the elytra (wing- 

 cases) and integument. The Tiger-beetles are 

 mimicked by harmless and inoffensive species 

 of Coleoptera, and several genera of weevils 

 are imitated by softer and more eatable species 

 of beetles ; while in the Philippine Islands a 

 cricket is found that is so absolutely like one 

 of the Tiger-beetles that even experienced 

 entomologists have been known to place it in 

 their cabinets amongst the Coleoptera. 



Still another form of protective mimicry is 

 shown by certain insects that seek to terrify 

 their enemies by a deceptive resemblance to 

 a venomous snake or bird of prey. Bates 

 describes a large caterpillar inhabiting South 

 America which once startled him, when he was 

 on a collecting expedition, by suddenly thrusting 

 its head out of a bush, and so wonderfully did 

 the insect resemble a small species of poisonous 

 snake that for the moment he was quite alarmed. 



The North American Silk Moth (Callosamia 

 promethus) adopts this terrifying mode of pro- 

 tection. The rounded margin of the insect's fore- 

 wings mimic the contour of a snake's head, while 

 the markings down the edge of the wings are 

 identical in shape and colour to the broad scales 

 on the under surface of a snake's body. The 

 Moth has a curious habit when at rest, or 

 crawling slowly about the leaves and stems of 



