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sides of the hind wings of all the species are mottled and shaded 

 with sober colours, so that when the insects are at rest on the trunks 

 of trees, or even on the ground in the ordinar}? manner of butterflies 

 in repose, that is with the wings raised vertically over the back, they 

 are perfectly protected by reason of the complete harmony existing 

 between the colours of the under sides of the hind wings of the 

 insects and the object upon which they rest. 



Darwin in The Descent of Ma7i suggests that conspicuous colours 

 are indirectly beneficial to many species as a warning that they are 

 unpalatable. I am not aware whether or not this will apply to 

 species of the genus Vanessa ; if it does, then they are doubly 

 protected, and can roam from flower to flower or bask in the pleasant 

 sunshine without a thought of danger. I am inclined to thmk, 

 however, that they do not enjoy entire immunity from attack when 

 on the wing, or when settled with wings expanded. I have frequently 

 watched the commoner species of the genus basking in the sunshine 

 with their "wings fully displayed, and have always observed that on 

 the least shadow falling across them, they either took to flight or 

 immediately closed their wings. This fact would suggest an in- 

 stinctive knowledge of the protective nature of the under sides of 

 their wings, and at the same time imply that they did not place 

 implicit confidence in the deterrent properties of their brilliant 

 colours. This is, however, a matter that I do not propose to go 

 into in the present paper, it being my intention to treat of protective 

 coloration of Lepidoptera only, in as far as it relates to the safety of 

 the species in a state of repose. 



Most of you will probably have had some experience with Safyrus 

 semele, and will have observed how cleverly it eludes capture by the 

 simple process of closing its wings. A specimen of this insect will 

 alight on the ground a few feet in front of you. Then with net in 

 hand you creep gently forward with your eye fixed on the spot 

 where you saw semele settle, but only to find the insect vanished. 

 You feel certain it cannot have flown away, still, you cannot see it ; 

 and whilst you are peering here and there semele darts from under 

 your very nose, and settles again a few yards further on, there to 

 repeat the same tactics. 



The orange tip butterfly {Euchloe cardamines) again, is not difficult 

 to see or capture when on the wing, but when at rest in its favourite 

 position, that is, on the flower-heads of one of the Unibelliferoe^ the 

 under sides of its wings harmonize with the flowers, and render its 

 detection difficult. In Theda rubi we have an example of bright 



