96 



NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



dropping which it resembles. While this moth remains qniet 

 on the leaf, it may be mistaken by birds for their own excre- 

 ment, and in this way escapes 

 destruction. The extent of 

 protection afforded to moths 

 exhibiting this type of form 

 and coloration may be more 

 readily understood when the 

 distribution of this particular 

 genus is studied. 



The genus Acontia ' is 

 found in lioth hemispheres 

 and in our fauna thirty-five 

 recognized species have been 

 described within the limits of 



^^ 



The Moth Acontia crastriodes and bird excrement irhicJi it 

 resembles. From nature just as the ol>jects were found. 



Canada and the United States. The species are marked in 

 various ways on their forewings, so that all of them are pro- 

 tected in the way mentioned. The significance and extent 



^ Or Tiimrhe o^ some authors. 



