The Origin of the Markings of Caterpillars. 351 



up the large surface presented by the caterpillar, 

 and are of no value as imitations of surrounding 

 objects. 



The oblique stripes of Sphinx Convolvuli offer 

 a precisely similar case ; and it may be safely pre- 

 dicted that the young forms of this species would 

 possess sharply defined light oblique stripes, since 

 more or less distinct remnants of these markings 

 occur in all the adult larvae, and especially in the 

 green form. The entire pattern of this caterpillar 

 depends essentially on the commingling of charac- 

 ters persisting from an earlier period, i.e. of residues 

 of the subdorsal and oblique stripes, both these 

 markings being extraordinarily variable. The 

 black reticulation was added to the ground- 

 colour as a new means of adaptation, this charac- 

 ter appearing only in the phyletically younger 

 brown form, and being entirely absent, or only 

 faintly indicated, in the older green variety. 



