132 A NATURALIST IN BORNEO 



rest of the surface. So too the flickering red filaments 

 that many Papilio caterpillars suddenly shoot out from 

 just behind the head when touched, are distinctly 

 disconcerting. A Mantis which at rest appears like a 

 dead leaf or knot of bark, when displaying its bright 

 colours and assuming extraordinary attitudes is without 

 doubt to some creatures a very alarming object. An 

 African species, Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi, has eye-like 

 markings on the wing-covers, or tegmina, and Mr. G. A. K. 

 Marshall thinks that these are of a terrifying character ; 

 of this species he writes : I " When the insect is irritated 

 the wings are raised over its back in such a manner 

 that the tegmina stand side by side, and the markings 

 on them then present a very striking resemblance to the 

 great yellow eyes of a bird of prey, or some feline 

 animal, which might well deter an insectivorous enemy. 

 It is noticeable that the insect is always careful to 

 keep the wings directed towards the point of attack, 

 and this is often done without altering the position of 

 the body." 



The species of the Malayan genus Creobotra also 

 have eye-like marks on the wing-covers, but I have 

 never seen any of them alive, so cannot say if they 

 behave in the same way as the African species ; still, 

 I have little doubt that they will be shown to do so. 

 A great many, though not all, of the species that 

 " display " when irritated, also display when they 

 perceive their prey approaching, and it may be asked 

 why the same warning colours should be exhibited 

 when the insect fears attack and when it is expectant 

 of an immediate meal. It seems probable that any 

 excitement may provide the stimulus pleasure at the 

 1 Trans. Ent. Soc., 1902, p. 399. 



