CHAPTEE XI 



WARNING COLOURS (continued) 



Sexual colouring may be made use of for warning 

 purposes 



In addition to the modes of producing a warning 

 appearance which we have hitherto considered, and 

 which are almost universal in this country, there is 

 another method which is very conspicuous in the 

 tropics. In certain groups of mature insects, and 

 especially in butterflies, the beautiful colours and 

 patterns which have been produced by courtship, 

 appear to have been made use of as an indication of 

 some unpleasant quality. 



The differences between Sexual and Warning Colours 



The tints used in and produced by courtship are 

 as a rule easily distinguished from Warning Colours, 

 even when both occur in sexually mature insects. 

 The former rarely usurp the whole surface of an in- 

 sect, and they are carefully concealed during repose. 

 Thus the upper sides of the upper wings of most 

 moths, and the under sides of both wings in butter- 



