PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCES. 105 



that each may not independently have arrived, by the process of 

 evolution, at the establishment of a similar typical feature which has 

 proved useful to each in the struggle for existence. A resemblance 

 will thus be found between them, though neither can in strictness 

 be said to imitate the other. 



In this connection, I wish to describe a very curious likeness not 

 only in appearance but behaviour, which has come under my notice 

 between two harmless caterpillars and a venomous snake. It suggests 

 several questions of interest, possibly of importance, but their 

 solution must be left to wiser heads than mine. 



Among the inmates of our " caterpillar farm" described at p. 277 

 of the fourth Vol. of the Journal, was a large Qeometra ("loofer ") 

 caterpillar, given to us by our Honorary Secretary, in whose com- 

 pound on Cumballa Hill it had been found. It was then fully three 

 inches long, and nearly as thick as my little finger^ of a very dark 

 brown, almost black colour, with the exception of a large irregular 

 Y-shaped patch of a dirty yellowish- white near the tail end. This, 

 when the creature's back was "looped" in its characteristic manner, 

 gave it the appearance of a cobra, erect, with expanded hood, in act 

 to strike. From the shape and position of the markings, this like- 

 ness was only perceptible from behind. But to an enemy meditating 

 an attack from the rear it would be so striking as to cause an invol- 

 untary pause, during which the caterpillar, hurrying in the other 

 direction, could easily increase its distance, if not altogether effect 

 its escape. That this was the use of the resemblance was clear from 

 the fact that the caterpillar always assumed what Weissmann calls 

 its " terrifying attitude " when annoyed or startled, as, for instance, 

 by having its tail tickled with a straw, or the floor of the cage sud- 

 denly tapped. 



This specimen was of very vagrant habits, constantly effecting its 

 escape from the cage in a mysterious way, and turning up in un- 

 expected places at a distance from it. Possibly its activity was due 

 to hunger, for we did not know, and could not discover its food 

 plant, and it would not touch any of the numerous leaves which 

 we supplied in the hope of tempting its appetite. At last it 

 disappeared, and was only found again long afterwards behind 

 the wainscotting, when it was what Mr. Mantalini would describe 

 14 



