COURTSHIP AND MATING OF INSECTS 



161 



nant to our aesthetic susceptibilities, seems to me to be entirely 

 unexplained if we assume that the colours of both are intended 

 for the purposes of recognition. But these great differences are 

 to be expected if we accept Mr. Darwin's views; for the colours 

 and patterns of the latter division appeal to a vertebrate enemy's 

 sense of what is conspicuous, while those of the former appeal to 

 an insect's sense of what is beautiful. It is, of course, highly 

 remarkable that our own aesthetic sense should so closely corre- 

 spond with that of an insect. I believe, however, that it is 

 possible to account for this wonderful unanimity in taste. Our 



Fig. 1117. Orange-Tips (Anthocharis cardamines) in Centre (male left; female right). Cabbage-Whites 

 (Pieris brassicte] at Sides (male right; female left) 



standards of beauty are largely derived from the contemplation 

 of the numerous examples around us, which, strange as it may 

 seem, have been created by the aesthetic preferences of the insect 

 world." 



Among our native species the Orange-Tip Butterfly (Antho- 

 charis cardamines, fig. 1117) may probably be taken as a good 

 example of courtship coloration. As in most other butterflies, 

 these insects bring their wings together when they settle, and are 

 then inconspicuous, as the under surfaces of these organs are pro- 

 tectively coloured, being white with greenish mottlings. This is 

 more particularly true for the female Orange-Tip, which is often 

 found sleeping among the blossoms of Wild Chervil (Anthriscus 

 sylvestris\ with the colour-scheme of which it harmonizes wonder- 



VOL. IV. 



105 



