Proceedings of the South African Philosophical Society. xxvii 
term aggressive resemblance in opposition to resemblance pure and 
sumple. , 
(a) Resemblance as an aid to aggression in addition to simple pro- 
tective resemblance. 
The number of genera and species of carnivorous insects, 2.e., insects 
which prey on others, is small in proportion to that of non-carni- 
vorous ones. 
Taking first the order ORTHOPTERA (1.¢., the Cockroaches, Stick- 
Insects, Locusts, Grasshoppers, Praying-Mantis, &c.), in which 
protective colouration is carried to a point of efficiency as high, 
if not higher, than in the Lepidoptera, while modification in shape 
is most varied, the Mantide and Sagid@ alone are of raptorial habit ; 
both are very voracious. 
Among the South African species of the former I find that of those 
contained in the Cabinet of the South African Museum, 19 are green or 
yellow, and 48 are brown, greyish, or dusky. Mantis natalensis, 
which belongs to the green or greenish series is, however, occasionally 
drab-coloured, and it is quite possible that more of the green species 
may also occasionally be greyer. ‘‘ Wolves in sheep’s clothing,”’ 
most of them, they are difficult to detect; some are almost exact 
reproductions of the rod-like, harmless Phasnude, or Stick-Insects 
(Parathespra macra, Danuria thunbergr). One (fisherra sulcatifrons) 
goes a step further, and actually has a long anal process in imitation 
of some of these harmless Phasmide. It must be remembered, 
however, that the female, in the adult stage, simulates better than 
the male, while the young of either sex are even better adapted to 
their surroundings than the adults. 
Some of the South African Hmpusine have greenish wing-covers 
(tegmina) relieved by whitish or yellow markings. One of them, 
Harpax tricolor, is fairly common in the neighbourhood of Cape 
Town, but it is only found on the flowers of the wild carrot. The 
scattered greenish and white patches on the body of the insect 
harmonise so well with the flowerets of the plant that the resem- 
blance is very great indeed—so great that it is usually some time 
before one detects its presence. Removed from the flower the animal 
is distinct enough: replaced again he becomes so inconspicuous that 
one actually wonders where he is. The young insect is even better 
adapted. The abdomen is recurved on the back, and kept expanded 
there like a flower, while the powerful raptorial claws are ready to 
seize the unsuspecting visitor. 
Cases of attracting colours are rare here, but in India there is a 
Mantis which feeds upon the insects attracted to it by its flower-like 
