36 



THE COLOURS OF ANIMALS 



invisible. The moth is also similarly concealed, and 

 rests on tree-trunks. 



A caterpillar which makes its surroundings 

 resemble itself 



In all the examples hitherto described, and count- 

 less others, the insect is defended by resembling its 

 surroundings ; the very interesting caterpillar of 



a South American 

 butterfly. (Anaea 

 sp. ?), described by 

 Wilhelm Muller, 

 acts differently and 

 makes its surround- 

 ings resemble itself. 

 It gnaws the leaf in 

 such a manner as to 

 leave a number of 

 rough models of it- 

 self attached to the 

 mid-rib, and then sits down beside them. The cater- 

 pillar is green above and dark beneath, although 

 the former colour interrupts the latter at certain 

 points and comes into contact with the mid-rib on 

 which the insect is resting. The dark colour is not 

 distinguishable from the deep shadow behind the 

 leaf, and therefore the appearance is that of an 

 elongated patch of green connected with the mid- 



FIG. 10. The larva of Anaea sp. t on the mid-rib 

 of a leaf on which are many pieces of leaf of 

 the general appearance of the larva; third 

 stage ; natural size ; after Wilhelm Muller. 



