192 LIFE AND SPORT IN HAMPSHIRE 



the knapweed. But when we come to examine many 

 knapweed blossoms, the theory for colour protection 

 vanishes from thought, for, mostly, the moth fastens 

 itself for the evening and night not on the green knob, 

 but on the purple blossom above; and there is no 

 matching of colours here. The high colour of the 

 flower does in some degree kill the high colour of the 

 moth ; the burnet is not so noticeable on the knap- 

 weed as it would be on the ox-eye daisy near by ; but 

 there is nothing like mimicry or assimilation. What 

 makes the burnet, then, on this slope fasten itself 

 always to the knapweed, sometimes to the knob, but 

 more often to the blossom itself ? I fancy the cause 

 may be comfort. The burnet is a heavy insect, which, 

 sleeping on such a perch as a blue butterfly chooses, 

 might be swung and battered to the ground by a 

 breeze. The ground must mean death to insects, 

 for it is here that night foes lurk and crawl the 

 mouse and the toad, and many another. Besides, on 

 the ground, with the weather wet, they will be 

 drenched and perhaps overcome. I say this mindful 

 that some moths rest on the ground, low down among 

 grasses and leaves yellow underwing moths, for 

 instance. But these exceptions do not persuade me 

 that the safe seat for a moth or butterfly at night is 

 not aloft. 



Another instance of the natural selection which 

 has preserved the wild creature is seen clearly by 

 some eyes and minds in the seeming pretence of 



