CHAPTER VI 

 ADAPTIVE COLORATION 



Protective Resemblance. Every naturalist knows of many ani- 

 mals that tend to escape detection by resembling their surroundings. 

 This phenomenon of protective resemblance is richly exemplified by in- 

 sects, among which one of the most remarkable cases is furnished by the 

 Kallima butterflies, especially K. inachis of India and K. paralekta of the 

 Malay Archipelago. The former species (Fig. 240) is conspicuous when on 

 the wing; its bright colors, however, are confined to the upper surfaces 

 of the wings, and when these are folded together, as in repose, the insect 



B 



FIG. 240. Kallima inachis; A, upper surface; B, with wings closed, showing resemblance to 



a leaf. X 5^- 



resembles to perfection one of the dead leaves among which it is accus- 

 tomed to hide. The form, size and color of the leaf are accurately re- 

 produced, the petiole being simulated by the tails of the wings. Two 

 parallel shades, one light and one dark, represent, respectively, the 

 illuminated and the shaded side of a mid-rib, and the side- veins as well 

 are imitated; there are even small scattered black spots resembling 

 those made on the leaf by a species of fungus. Furthermore, the butterfly 

 habitually rests, not among green leaves, where it would be conspicu- 

 ous, but among leaves with which it harmonizes in coloration. Not- 



178 



