CHAPTER IV 

 WAENING COLORATION. 



In tile preceding chapter attention lias been directed to 

 numerous instances of colour and arrangement of colour 

 whicli appear to have the result of rendering the animal 

 similar to its surroundings. 



The colours known as " warning " have a precisely opposite 

 tendency — viz., to render their possessor conspicuous. 



As the explanation of warning colours was first devised by 

 Mr. Wallace to account for the brilliancy in the tints of certain 

 caterpillars, and as the whole subject has been principally 

 studied by experiments upon these animals, we shall commence 

 here, and afterwards pass on to other groups. 



The Magpie Moth Caterpillar as an Instance of Warning 



Colours. 



One of the most abundant caterpillars in any garden is that 

 of the " Magpie " moth {Abraxas grossidariata) ; it belongs 

 to the Geometers, but has not the habit, which most of its 

 allies have, of remaining during the day stretched out rigidly 

 from a twig. Nor does it approximate in colour, as do nearly 

 all other Geometers, to the plants upon which it feeds. The 

 colour of the Magpie caterpillar is white, with black stripes 

 and dots, and some reddish marks below. 



Mr. Jenner Weir, Mr. A. G. Butler, and Mr. Poulton, found 

 that several birds, lizards, frogs and spiders, almost invariably 



