MIMICRY. 453 



black Ants, such as Formica gagates and Componotus cethiops. 

 Prof. Emery suggests that, their numbers being small and their 

 sight not very good, they find it convenient to accompany other 

 Ants which live in larger communities, and they perhaps escape 

 detection from the similarity of colour."* 



Mr. Skuse considers that the Australian Hepialid moth (Leto 

 stacyi, Scott) resembles in situ an approach to the head of a 

 reptile of the genus Varanus. " The moth is one which passes 

 its larval state in the butts of Eucalyptus trees for the period of 

 five or six years, but on emergence the perfect insect is not prone 

 to fly, and would therefore be very liable to be attacked by birds. 

 Hence the probability that my surmise of the striking resemblance 

 to the head of a Lizard being an instance of genuine protective 

 imitation is correct."! Of the larvae of the Hawk-Moth (Choero- 

 campa porcellus), it has been stated that should it " be discovered 

 among the dead leaves, where it usually lies concealed, the first 

 four segments are suddenly retracted, and, as in the case of 

 C. celerio, the animal appears to have a very large head, with two 

 glaring and dangerous-looking eyes. This transformation is no 

 doubt of use for defensive purposes."! A similar observation is 

 made on the larva of C, elpenor. - " In this position its appear- 

 ance is very striking, and gives a formidable look to the creature 

 in the eyes of those animals that might have been thinking to 

 prey upon it."§ Poulton has proposed that these caterpillars 

 11 terrify their enemies by the suggestion of a Cobra-like ser- 

 pent " ; || an hypothesis not so improbable as would appear if 

 C. elpenor is considered a purely European species, whereas it is 

 distributed over " Europe, Japan, Sind, Himalayas, Shillong, 

 Nagas, Manipur";H and thus is found in the area inhabited by 

 the Cobra. Dr. Gregory, in East Central Africa, relates having 

 been " startled by a hissing noise like that of a Snake coming 

 from a clump of grass." On closer inspection he " could just 

 detect a small green head among the stalks, and behind this 

 appeared, whenever the noise was repeated, an expansion like 



* Cf. Lubbock, • Ants, Bees, and Wasps,' pp. 402-3. 

 f ' Records Australian Museum,' vol. ii. p. 91. 

 { W. J. Lucas, 'Book of British Hawk-Moths,' p. 109. 

 § Hid. p. 113. 



|| ' The Colours of Animals,' p. 259. 

 % Hampson, ' Fauna Brit. India,' Moths, vol. i. p. 85. 



