248 



MR. E. B. POULTON ON THE PROTECTIVE [Mar. 1, 



Table V. 



Species and Stage. 



Imago Cerura vinula 



Protective resemblance, or habits of concealment, evasion, &e. 



3. Lepidopterous 



Flight not powerful : in the evening. At rest the fore wings and body are seen, 

 and are grey with darker markings. The insect is large and apparently not 

 inconspicuous; but it must be carefully concealed, for it is not commonly 

 found, although so abundant a species. 



Imago Pygcera bucephala .. 



Flight not powerful : in the evening. At rest it is " like the broken end of a 

 lichen-covered branch" {Wallace, as above). This effect is produced by the 

 purple and pearly-grey colour of the fore wings, with brown markings, and 

 the ochreous tip, and by the ochreous head and thorax. A very perfect form 

 of imitative resemblance, the wings being rolled round the body so as to 

 produce a cylindrical shape, with yellow ends, like a broken piece of decayed 

 stick. 



Imago Dasychira jpudibunda 



Flight not powerful : in the evening. At rest tlie colours, due to fore wings and 

 body, are grey with darker markings. Although common, it is rarely seen, 

 and must be carefully concealed. 



Imago Orgyia antiqiia 

 (female). 



Imago Acronycta psi . 



Imago Mamestra brasskcB .. 



Imago Mamestra persicarics 



The female Moth has rudimentary wings, and never quits its cocoon, but sits 

 on the outside of it, being very inconspicuous, as it is covered witli grey 

 down, which harmonizes well with the colour of the surface upon which it is 

 resting. 



Flight rapid : at night. Bests by day " on the north side of trees," and there- 

 fore protected by resembling lichens ( Wallace, as above). Fore wings and 

 body alone seen at rest — grey, with dark markings. I have certainly often 

 seen it on other aspects than north ; but anywhere on rough bark it is well 

 concealed. 



Flight rapid : at night. By day well concealed by the tints of fore wings and 

 part of body, which are "dark smoky grey-brown, with confused markings 

 both darker and paler" {Newman); thus well protected on trunks, rocks, &c. 



Flight rapid : at night. By day well concealed (probably in dark corners), as it 

 is seldom seen at rest. The fore wings and part of body alone seen, and are 

 " rich dark bistre-brown" {Newman), with a white spot with a darker nucleus 

 in the centre of the wing. 



