PROTECTION BY MIMICEY. 



383 



insects is familiar with numerous instances of this kind. Many 

 birds and quadrupeds that are regularly hunted by men have 

 become extremely rare in many places, because, though they are 

 to a great degree protected against their enemies among other 

 animals, by the resemblance of the colours of their feathers or 



Tig. 102.— Grasshoppers that are proteotei by their resemblance to leaves, a, Phyllium 

 skcifolium, feeds on leaves and mimics fresh leaves. 6, Acanfhops sp.. one of the 

 Manlidce, feeding on oreatm^es which it oaptures among dry vegetable matter ; it exactly 

 mimics dry leaves. From the Philippines. Half natural size. 



fur to the objects among which they live, man can employ a 

 variety of means of attack or pursuit against which the protec- 

 tion of resemblance is ineffectual. The zoologLst who should 

 attempt to capture the perfectly transparent creatures which 

 swim at the surface of the sea without using a net for straining 



