MODES OF DEFENCE. 32/ 



Nothing indeed can be more complete than the deception 

 produced by these insects ; the walking leaf is flat, semi- 

 transparent, narrowed at the head, or stalk part of the leaf, 

 the antennae forming the stem ; the abdomen is dilated at the 

 sides, notched, like the margin of a leaf, and, to complete 

 the resemblance, the wing-covers lie flat upon the back, for- 

 ming by their union a straight central line, from which pro- 

 ceed various oblique nerves, like the principal veins of a leaf. 



In the neuropterous and trichopterous orders, we find 

 equally successful means of defence. In the dragon-fly, we 

 have already seen how completely, by means of wings, eyes, 

 and mouth, it is enabled to escape from its enemies. The 

 delicate gauze-winged golden-eyed flies (HemeroUus), which 

 seem too slight to encounter even a breath of air, come forth 

 only at dusk : they, moreover, omit a most disgusting scent ; 

 and as a still further defence, they have the instinct to place 

 their eggs out of danger, at the extremity of long and slender 

 footstalks, and their larvae cover themselves with a coat 

 formed of the skins of their victims. The Phryganeae encase 

 themselves in the larva state in firm cases of earth, stones, 

 shells, &c., fastened together ; and thus their soft and fleshy 

 bodies are secured from the attacks of fishes, which, as 

 every angler is aware, deem them a tempting morsel. 



Who is there that has not experienced how well some of 

 the insects of the hymenopterous orders are enabled to de- 

 fend themselves by the assistance of their stings, the con- 

 struction of which is described in a preceding page ? 



The Lepidoptera are perhaps the most defenceless amongst 

 insects ; but here we find many larvae having the instinct to 

 enrol themselves in the leaves of plants, or to form for them- 

 selves tents or tubes of various materials for their abodes ; 

 whilst others, by their resemblance in colour to the plants 

 upon which they are found, or by the hairs by which they are 

 clothed, are amply defended against their foes. 



