INSECT ACTORS 121 



resemblance became complete. This wonderful 

 process of evolution is still going on around us 

 to-day, and instances of mimicry and adaptation 

 are to be found all over the world ; and although 

 through the researches of eminent scientists we 

 are acquainted with a vast number of examples 

 of this interesting phase of insect life, there is still 

 much to be learned and discovered, and this 

 branch of Natural History offers a wide and 

 fascinating field for original investigation. 



There is still another class of insects that 

 adopts disguise as a means of escaping the too 

 pressing attention of insect-hunting creatures. 

 These insect actors cannot be classed with the 

 true mimicking insects, as in their natural state 

 they are not protected by an outward resemblance 

 to any other creature, r or unobstrusive object in 

 their surrounding ; but appear exactly what they 

 are, just ordinary, soft-bodied larvae that would 

 be very much relished by their enemies. 



If, therefore, they were exposed to the bright 

 eye of every bird on the look-out for food, or 

 foraging for its young, they would stand a very 

 small chance of arriving at the final, perfect stage 

 of their existence, and would in all probability 

 soon be exterminated; so these defenceless 

 insects deliberately alter their appearance by 

 dressing themselves up in various disguises, or 

 making little dwelling-houses in which they may 

 live unobserved and unmolested. 



The larvae of all the Psychidae make for them- 

 selves little tubes, generally out of vegetable 

 tissues neatly joined with silk ; some species 

 use little bits of leaves, which they cut out with 



