Mimicry Among Animals 



rounding leaves. It sits on a nearly upright 

 twig, the wings fitting closely back to back, 

 concealing the antennae and head, which are 

 drawn up between their bases. The little tails 

 of the hind wings touch the branch and form 

 a perfect stalk to the leaf, which is sup] 

 in its place by the claws of the middle pair of 

 feet, which arc slender and inconspicuous. 

 The irregular outline of the wings gives exactly 

 the perspective effect of a shrivelled leaf. We 

 thus have size, colour, form, markings, and 

 habits, all combining together to produce a 

 disguise which may be said to be absolutely 

 perfect; and the protection which it affords is 

 sufficiently indicated by the abundance of the 

 individuals that possess it. . . . 



We will now endeavour to show how these 

 wonderful resemblances have most probably 

 been brought about. Returning to the higher 

 animals, let us consider the remarkable fact 

 of the rarity of white colouring in the mammalia 

 or birds of the temperate or tropical zones in 

 a state of nature. There is not a single white 

 land-bird or quadruped in Europe, except the 

 few arctic or alpine species, to which white is a 

 protective colour. Yet in many of these crea- 

 tures there seems to be no inherent tend 

 to avoid white, for directly they are domesti- 

 cated white- varieties arise, and appear to thrive 

 as well as others. We have white mice and 

 rats, white cats, horses, dogs, and cattle, white 

 poultry, pigeons, turkeys, and ducks, and 

 S7 



