116 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



further protected by having the power to suspend itself by a 

 silken thread. 



The larvae of the Hypochroma greatly resemble the Geometrino- 

 in their mode of protection. The moth of the larva described 

 is the common variety found on old fences, etc. On the 

 under side of the hind wings there are red markings, which 

 distinguish it from the other species. The colour of this larva 

 is green, darker above than below ; it has also a red or pink 

 stripe down either side, and this, I think, represents the mid- 

 rib of the leaves on which it feeds. The construction of the 

 head is also remarkable, it being formed somewhat like a cone. 

 When the insect is feeding, it has the appearance of wearing a 

 fool's-cap, but on being startled it lowers the head, so that the 

 point of the cone is in line with the body, and by folding the 

 pectoral legs the larva has the appearance of a leaf, and it may 

 thus escape the eyes of its foes. 



Other larvae again protect themselves by ejecting a volatile 

 oily fluid. Amongst these is that of the Papilio Erectheus, a 

 Queensland species. This splendid papilio has contracted a 

 habit somewhat like our vine moth, Agarista glycine, but not 

 quite in such a marked degree, of depositing its eggs on one of 

 our introduced trees, viz., the orange, to which it does no small 

 amount of damage. The larva, on being touched, thrusts out a 

 pair of glands or horns, from which it pours a volatile oil, 

 covering all the upper surface of the larva, and as this oily fluid 

 flows between the segments it effectually keeps at bay those 

 insects that would deposit their eggs in or on this larva. This 

 oil may also protect the larva from birds, as it has a very 

 powerful odour and a most disgusting taste. 



We will call attention to the larvje belonging to some of our 

 sphinx moths. Some of these larvse have two eye-like spots on 

 the back. On being alarmed, they assume the position from 

 which they take their name, and by so doing bring the spots into 

 full view from above and in front. This may be a protection 

 from birds, as they might mistake the markings for real eyes, and 

 be afraid of attacking so fierce an insect as this larva appears to 

 be. Birds generally seize a grub or insect by the head, and as 

 the head of the larva is drawn into the folds of the first segments, 

 the birds might take these larvae for some other animals with 

 which they are not acquainted. I do not say for certain 

 that these eyelike markings are used as a protection against 

 birds, but on looking at the bright colouring and the naked- 

 ness of these larvre, together with their great size, and then 

 at the little protection these larvae appear to have, one cannot 

 but look on these markings as a means of protection, at least 

 from the attacks of birds. I think these larvas suffer very little 

 from the attacks of ichneumons. I have not yet found one 

 destroyed by these insects. It would be interesting to know 



