rEOTEC'TIVB MIMICRY. 205 



stream, among a crowd of dragon-flies. " It flits over the top 

 of the water, fluttering its tails, jerking up and down jnst as 

 dragon-flies do when flicking the water with the tip of their 

 abdomens. When it settles on the ground it is diflficnlt to see 

 as it vibrates, in constant motion, its tail and wings, so that a 

 mere haze, as it were, exists where it rests." 



Unprotected Insects sometimes Mimicked by More than One 



Species. 



It is not invariably the case that a given insect vvhicli 

 possesses a sting, or some other means of defence, has only one 

 niimicker. Very often quite a large number of insects have, 

 sheltered themselves under the ])rotection afforded by a re- 

 semblance to one particular insect ; thus, according to Dr. Seitz, 

 ^^)/.s' mellifica, the common hive bee, is imitated by no less 

 than five species of harmless insects. 



Mimicry of Vertebrates by Insects, and of Insects by Vertebrates. 



A more fanciful case of mimicry, as it appears to me, is one 

 communicated to Xatui-e by Mr. S. E. Peal. A caterpillar 

 found in Assam, when suddenly surprised, erects its head in 

 an attitude stronglj- suggestive of a shrew, probably the very 

 animal that pre as u]ion it. 



The resemblance is cansed by two lateral prolongations, and 

 a pointed tip to the head ; these, when lifted in the peculiar 

 attitude assumed, simulate ears and a long muzzle, while the 

 mouth parts in profile look like the mouth of a vertebrate. 



It seems very unlikely that a shrew, with a strong odour, 

 and power of jierci'iving it in other animals, would lie taken in 

 in this ready fashion ; and even if it were, shrews are a pug- 

 nacious race, and the caterpillar might not gain much b\- the 

 deception. 



