314 ANIMAL DEFENCES 



assumes a comic appearance which has been compared to that 

 of a small reptile, the front end being broadened out into a surface 

 looking like the caricature of a face with red margin and dark 

 eyes, while from the hinder end two pink whips are shot out, 

 these being specializations of the last pair of larval legs (pro- 

 legs). A gland from which an irritant acid fluid can be squirted 

 out opens on the lower part of the apparent " face ". Some large 



Fig. 48S. — Caterpillars of the Lobster Moth [Statiropus fagi) 



caterpillars possess eye-like markings which give them a remote 

 resemblance to snakes, as, for example, in the case of those belong- 

 ing to the Large and Small Elephant Hawk-Moths [Ch^srocampa 

 elpenor and C. porcellus). 



Mimicking Flies. — A good example of mimicry among two- 

 winged flies (Diptera) is that of the Drone-Fly [Eristalis tenax) 

 (see fig. 390), which closely resembles a bee in appearance and 

 movements, besides which its loud buzz is suggestive of the more 

 powerful insect it is generally supposed to imitate. 



Mimicking Beetles. — Beetles (Coleoptera) present a variety 

 of cases usually believed to illustrate mimicry. As in the case 

 of insects belonging to other orders, a number of beetles would 

 appear to ward off attack by taking on the appearance of wasps 

 or bees. Poulton instances a British form (Clytus arietis) which 

 looks and moves very like a wasp, although the wings of the 

 latter are not imitated. This, however, is not so remarkable as 



