PROCEEDINGS. 649 



small hills amongst jungle, living in fissures of rocks or in holes dug by itself. It 

 is thoroughly nocturnal in its habits. Tickell relates that a specimen in captivity 

 fed voraciously on meat, fish, reptiles and fruit. Anderson writes of a specimen 

 kept in the Zoological garden at Calcutta " that it would pound plantains to a 

 pulp with its snout before sucking them into its mouth." 



It is proposed that Mr. Wells should accompany Mr. Milroy, a member of the 

 Society who is shortly making an expedition to the Cachar Hills where it is 

 hoped that, with Mr. Milroy 's assistance he will be able to obtain a useful 

 collection. 



ANGLING AROUND BOMBAY. 



Mr. G. I>. Traylen, one of the most skilful disciples of Isaak Walton in Bombay 

 and one who knows not only how to catch fish but where to catch them, is 

 unselfish enough to commmiicate his knowledge to fellow fishermen and in his 

 paper on " Angling around Bombay " deeply interested an appreciative 

 audience. He diviaed his subject roughly into three parts : — What fish are to 

 be taken, where to look for them, and what gear to use. 



As regards fish he confined himself chiefly to Bahmin — local vernacular 

 " Raos " and the " Begti " — local vernacular '"Dmigara" or " Kajura " 

 known in Southern Lidia as the "Nair " and gave a most entertaining account 

 of where to go and the tackle to use if one wanted to be successful. The d'-s- 

 cription of the best method of momiting the hook, and in Bahmin fishing every- 

 thing depends on a good hook hold, was made very clear by means of diagrams 

 on a black board, and good advice was given as to the best form of rod and 

 tackle. All present hoped that Mr. Traylen would on another occasion continue 

 his lectm-e and describe fishing on the inland waters of the Presidency with 

 which he is also well acquainted. 



INSECT MIMICRY. 



Mr. Prater exhibited several cases which had been prepared to illustrate the 

 various theories regarding warning colours and mimicry in insects. 



The complex colon r and form of many insects has aroused the attention of 

 several observers and numerous attempts have been made to explain the 

 meaning that miderlies them. 



We know that insects are preyed upon by a large number of creatures such 

 as Birds, Lizards, etc., and it is believed the form and colouring of certain insects 

 are devices for seciu'ing them immuiiity from attack. How else could we ex- 

 plain the wonderful likeness of the leaf insect to a bunch of leaves or the stick 

 insect to a dried stick or the mottled colours on the wings of certain moths 

 beetles or cicadas which so exactly resemble the bark on which they sit than as 

 instances of the most expert camouflage which would defy the i^reying eyes of 

 an ever watchful foe. Examples of these forms of cryptic colouration were illus- 

 trated. 



A second tyjie of cryptic colouring is evidenced in the changed appearance of 

 an insect in flight and when at rest. The Oak leaf butterfly is a remarkable 

 example of this. The brilliant uppersides of the wings exposed only in flight 

 ai'e in a marked contrast to the colour of the imdersides seen when the insect is 

 at rest. A similar contrast of colours is seen in the wing colom-s of several but- 

 terflies, grasshoppers and cicadas. The striking colom's presented by these 

 insects in flight is totally supplanted by their drab appearance when at rest 

 and it may be believed that the change thus presented is a successfvd aid in 

 evading pursuit. 



Certain insects on the contrary display the most vivid colour's that make 

 them stand out in marked contrast to their surroundings. These insects 

 are usually distasteful to birds and predaceous insects. Their striking coloura- 

 tion is said to be a ' warning '. A bird eating such an insect associates the 

 bright coloui'S with an unpleasant taste and refuses to eat similarly coloured 



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