168 INSECT BEHAVIOR 



thing which is dangerous and to be left alone by birds, lizards and 

 other enemies of the insects. 



There is still another type of camouflage among insects worthy of 

 mention, one which is doubtless effective in protecting absolutely 

 harmless and passive creatures from being attacked and eaten. 



We find, for instance, the chrysalis of a butterfly, a species of 

 Vanessa. It hangs by a tiny silk-fastened stem under a protecting 

 fence rail. Within the shell of the chrysalis, there is nothing but a 

 mass of disintegrating tissues, a thick fluid, studded with globules of 

 fat. It is neither caterpillar nor butterfly. It cannot thrash about 

 from side to side or make a demonstration, there are no spines to 

 pierce a would-be enemy, no wings by which the creature might 

 take flight. It is as helpless now as so much custard, for the insect 

 is in the process of change from one form to another. 



Such is the actual condition of the pupal butterfly, but let us 

 examine its outer covering. It is a frightful-looking object, 

 armored, and covered with sharp spikes between which beady false 

 eyes peer out. It is absolutely harmless but appears otherwise. To 

 birds it is doubtless a thing to beware of, yet one tiny puncture of its 

 brittle covering would reveal a delicious feast within! 



Many insects are thus protected, ones that could not compete in 

 any form of battle. They are given immunity from attack because 

 they could not ward it off themselves. In the case of the trans- 

 forming pupa, some such form of protection becomes a necessity. A 

 butterfly in the making is as helpless as the egg from which it sprung, 

 so Nature resorts to camouflage to terrorize the destroyers of her 

 children. 



