COMBINATION OF MANY METHODS OF DEFENCE 273 



The finger could then be withdrawn by pulling the 

 string, and protruded by blowing into the glove. The 

 filaments are especially used in young and half-grown 

 larvae ; the larger caterpillars often lose the power of 

 protruding them. 



The appearance of the caterpillar is sufficiently 

 alarming to human beings, and most people believe 

 that the black marks are really eyes. Eosel was 

 afraid to touch the larva when it assumed its terrify- 

 ing attitude. Izaak Walton speaks of the black marks 

 as ' his eyes black as jet,' in a description which, by 

 the way, is a translation of the Latin account given 

 by Muffett (or Moufet), 1 or more probably slightly 

 modified from, the account in Topsell's 'History of 

 Serpents ' (!) which is borrowed from Muffett. 8 



The care necessary if we are to obtain experimental 

 proof of the protective value of such terrifying 

 appearances 



I have found that the marmoset was certainly 

 terrified by a large Puss caterpillar, and although it 

 is said to be greedily devoured by birds, I do not 

 expect that the experiment was carried out in a 

 manner at all fair to the larva. When a larva is un- 

 scrupulously flung into a cage by some one from 



1 Insectomm sive minimorum Animalium Theatrum. London, 

 1634, p. 183. 



'* London, 1658, p. 666. 



