PATTERNS CONSPICUOUS IN NATURE. 



4ir 



anterioi" and lateral margins ; in no. 5 it interrupts the anterior 

 margin. In no. 2 the pattern of eye-spots and irregular bands 

 is confined to the outer margins of the wings, whereas the rest 

 of the wings is of an even dull tone (brown) ; in nos. 1, o, and 5 

 the pattern is likewise more or less confined to the margins, 

 leaving the centre of the wings plain ; in no. 1 the outer margin 

 is fringed by outstanding scales which cause the margin to 

 appear indistinct. Unprotected butterflies show, as a rule, one 

 or other of these and other chai^acters which cause their outlines 

 to blend into their surroundings, the pattern is confined to the 

 wing margins and it interrupts the margin, and the margin is- 



Text-fieure 20. 



Insects witli inconspicuous patterns. 



1. Pontia daplidice $. 2. Anadebis Jiimacliala J. 3. Lethe neelgheriensis $, 

 4. Sestia Jiadenii ^ . o. Pazala sikkiwa $• 6. Hestia malabarica 9^. 



scalloped. On the other hand, those insects which have been 

 considered to present conspicuous patterns show none of these- 

 characters : their outlines are not scalloped, their patterns aro 

 not especially confined to the margin and do not interrupt the 

 margin. 



Finally, it may be said that whilst the inconspicuous pattern 

 of insects conceals their outline, the silhouette of an insect 

 against its surroundings (the patterns may or may not mimic the- 

 backgrounds), the conspicuous pattern accentuates the margin. 



