250 



M 



R. E, B. POULTON ON THE PROTECTIVE [Mar. 1, 



Table V. 



Species and Stage. 



Imago TVyphsna fimbria .. 



Protective resemblance, or habits of concealment, evasion, &c. 



3. Lepidopterous 



Flight rapid : at night. By day very well concealed, probably near the ground 

 and among dead bi-own leaves. Fore wings and part of body different shades of 

 brown, and also olive-green in other varieties, with paler and darker markings 

 and lines. Hind wings orange, with a broad black border, seen in flight, and 

 with the orange and black on the undersides suggest, in the rapid motion, a 

 yellow leaf blown by the wind. Probably the significance of the markings 

 and the habits are the same as in the next species. 



Imago Tryph(Bna orbona ... 



Flight rapid : at night ; not so easily disturbed by day as T. prom/ha, but the 

 same rapid flight and habits of concealment &c. if it is disturbed. The 

 colours and protective resemblance are much the same as in the last species. 



Imago Tryphana pronuba.. 



Flight rapid : at niglit, and also easUy disturbed by day, when it flies with great 

 speed, rising very quickly and dropping down (always into good shelter of 

 brown leaves &c.) equally quickly. The whole process is very unlike the 

 flight of a Moth, and the colour and movement suggest a yellow leaf lifted 

 off the ground by a gust of wind, whirled away for a certain distance, and 

 then suddenly falling agaiu ; so exact is this resemblance, that I have rarely 

 been certain of the Moth until it had flown a long way. If tracked down 

 and followed the Moth rises again very readily. This resemblance is chiefly 

 due to the brown of the fore wings, aided by the yellow and black of the 

 bind wings and the undersides. At rest it is extremely well concealed by 

 the varying brown shades of the fore wings and part of the body exposed. 

 It seeks dark corners, and hides deeply among thick leaves or among dead 

 leaves on the ground. It is also very strong and slippery, and hard to hold 

 when caught (JenJier JVeir). I have also noticed this feature. I should 

 add that Jenner Weir has another theory (alluded to below) as to the 

 meaning of yellow and black underwings. 



Imago Anthocelis pistacina. 



Imago Euplexia lucipara... 



Flight rapid : at night ; by day well concealed and seldom seen. The parts seen 

 at rest vary much in colour, being brownish, reddish, or of different grey 

 tints with faint darker markings. 



Flight rapid : at night. Very seldom seen at rest, and evidently well concealed, 

 probably in dark corners and among dead leaves. Fore wings and part of 

 body alone seen are rich brown with pale markings and a white mark on 

 the wing. 



Imago Amphipyra pyra- 

 midea. 



Flight rapid : at night ; by day well concealed and very seldom seen. The parts 

 seen at rest are brown and grey-brown, with paler and darker markings. 



Imago Hadena oleracea 



Flight rapid : at night. At rest well concealed and seldom seen. Fore wings 

 and part of body seen are reddish brown, with a narrow white line and two 

 light spots on wings. Resembling bark or dead leaves &c. 



