VIII 



THE DISGUISES OF INSECTS 



187 



number of moths and the prevailing tints of nature at the 

 season when they appear. Out of fifty-two autumn-flying 

 moths, it has been noticed that a large proportion are of 

 various tints of yellow and brown, so as exactly to match 

 with the " sere and yellow leaf; " while in winter they are 

 of grey and silvery tints, like the washed-out leaves and 

 grass, the fog and the hoar-frost, which give a tone to 

 every landscape at this season. 



We now come to a closer and more special disguise. 

 Many of the moths that rest during the day on palings or 

 on the trunks of trees are marked and coloured so as to 



Fig 44.— lappkt moth. 



match the tints of the bark and lichens, and thus to escape 

 observation. As examples of this numerous class, we may 

 mention two of our commonest species — the " Dagger " 

 (Acronycta psi) and the pretty green A(jrio]pis aj^rtlina. 

 The Lappet moth {GastropMha qucrcifolia) when at rest 

 resembles very closely a small bunch of dead leaves ; and 

 at a little distance could hardly be taken to be a moth, so 

 curiously does it spread out its hind wings so as to pro- 

 ject beyond the others. The accompanying cut (Fig. 44?) 

 by the late Mr. T. W. Wood, is an accurate representation 

 of this insect in its attitude of repose. 



