li 



linot-grass that I discovered my misusing ones. In their early stages 

 these caterpillars are sometimes green and then they sit on the 

 leaves. Other groups of caterpillars are protected by their resem- 

 blance to the bark of trees and to the lichens growing on them, 

 while others again make their surroundings resemble themselves. 

 The caterpillar ot the Large Emerald moth when it feeds 

 on the birch resembles a birch catkin ; but it also occurs on the 

 alder, and when young, before hibernation, is dull purplish all 

 over ; in this state it is like, in size and colour, the unexpanded 

 bud of alder ; after the alder shoots, and the caterpillar turns 

 green, it cuts theougn the juicy stems of the shoots and gnaws 

 them away for food, and then it looks like a young, partly-unfolding 

 leaf projecting from the stem. Those of us w.io have seen the 

 brightly-coloured caterpillars of the privet and poplar moths might 

 at first be inclined t ) think they were conspicuous objects, but seen 

 on their respective food plants the bright-coloured markings har- 

 monize very beautifully with their surroundings. These ca erpillars, 

 just before they enter the chrysahs state, descend to the ground in 

 order to bury in it, and then their col )ur changes to a dull purple, 

 in harmony with the colour of the earth. The caterpillar of the 

 Emperor moth (P. carpim), whish is nearly two inches in length, 

 not only resembles the green colour of the heather upon which it 

 feedS; but the small pinkish purple dots with which it is studded 

 closely imitates the flower buds of the plants, and its habit of 

 twining itself around the ste q when alarmed makes it almost im- 

 possible at a little distance to distinguish it from the heather. 

 Mr. Poulton (in Colours of Animals), gives the results of many 

 experiments showing the power of caterpillars to adjust themselves 

 to the colour of the leaf upon which they feed. The next slide 

 will show the larvae of a continental n octua [Catocala elocata) with 

 the colour adjusted to that of the darii twigs mixed with the food- 

 plant. 



Besides resemblance to their suit )unding3, aud power to adapt 

 their colouring t) the plants up^a which they feed, caterpillars are 

 often brightly coloure 1, and also possess curious appenlages which 

 are used as warning colours and as a means of frightening their 



-enemies. As an instance of warnhig colours, I may mention tho3^ 

 of the caterpillars of tie Magpie \no\h [Abraxa grossulariata) 2,\idi 

 Cinnabar moth [hJ. jacohce). Although the first named belongs to 

 the " Stiik'' family it mikes no attempt to conceal itself, but all 

 birds, lizards, frogs, etc. either refuse it altogether, or else express 

 great disgust after tastmg it. Thus its conspicuous colour warns 

 its enemies that it is uneatable. Another means of defence is that 

 of mimiciiig vertebrate animals. It is more common in tropical 



^regions than in our own country, but we have an instance of it in 



