58 THE COLOUKS OF ANIMALS 



The appearance of splinters of wood is also often 

 suggested by moths such as the ' Sharks ' (Cucullia) 

 or Goat Moth (Cossus). Others resemble the surfaces 

 of rock upon which they habitually rest (Bryophila, 

 many Geometers, &c.). 



I have merely given a few striking instances of 

 resemblance to objects which are of no interest to 

 insect-eating animals. Numerous other examples 

 might have been added, but my object is merely to 

 illustrate from the Lepidoptera a principle of colour- 

 ing which is of extremely wide application, viz. its 

 use in aiding an organism to escape from enemies 

 by the method of concealment. Abundant examples 

 of this principle will be recognised by every one 

 interested in natural history, among other orders of 

 insects as well as the Lepidoptera, among vertebrate 

 animals no less than among the invertebrate sub- 

 kingdoms. 



Protective Resemblances in other Insects and in Spiders 



In the other orders of insects, the Orthoptera 

 (locusts, grasshoppers, &c.) will be found to include the 

 most beautiful examples of Protective Eesemblance. 

 The tropical ' leaf insects ' and ' walking-stick insects ' 

 belong to this order. The latter hold their limbs 

 irregularly, so that the resemblance to a dead branch 

 with lateral twigs is rendered all the more perfect. 



