40 



Hartwig, in his fascinating work on the Tropical World, thus tells of a leaf-like 

 butterfly : — 



" Mr. Wallace describes the Kallima paralekta, a large, beautifully coloured butterfly 

 when flying, but which, when alighted, cannot be distinguished from a dead leaf, except 

 upon the closest scrutiny. He had often seen it flying, but had never been able to 

 capture one. At last he actually saw one alight close by where he was standing, but it 

 disappeared as if by magic. At last he detected it, and having secured it, was able to 

 perceive how it was able to hide itself, when in plain view. The upper end of the wings 

 terminates in a fine point, while the lower wings are lengthened out into a short thick 

 tail ; between these points runs a dark line like the midrib of a leaf, with marks on each 

 side resembling leaf-veins. When the wings are closely pressed together, the whole out- 

 line is exactly like that of a half-shrivelled leaf, which it then resembles in colour. The 

 tail of the hind wings forms a perfect stalk, and rests upon the twig, while the insect is 

 supported by the middle pair of legs, which are hardly to be distinguished from the twigs 

 around. The head is drawn back between the wings, at whose base is a notch to let it 

 in. Knowing all this, one must look closely at the picture which he gives in order to 

 distinguish the alighted butterfly from a leaf." 



Many insects hide their glories 

 under sober coloured fore wings. 

 This is especially the case with 

 the Catocalidce. An insect of 

 this race, in repose, resembles a 

 iece of bark, or of lichen ; but, 

 when displayed, its beauty is 

 marvellous. I remember a hunlf 

 I had, many years ago, for a 

 specimen of Catocala relicta, 

 (Fig. 24) in the sugar-bush, near 

 the farm-house, over the brow of 

 Mount Royal. The insect was- 

 at rest on the trunk of a tree, 

 just above my reach. It was 

 disturbed by my efforts to secure it, and flew off. I watched it threading its way 

 amongst the maples for some moments ; and then it disappeared. I proceeded in the 

 direction it had taken, and, after half an hour's search, discovered it again. Again it 

 escaped me. It was too good a prize to be lightly abandoned, so I once more set 

 out in pursuit, and I went 



across the bush, 



And through and through the bush 

 And round and round the bush, 



and, after three hours' search, I found it, and had the satisfaction of boxing it. 



Who has not been startled, when walking along a dusty roadway in the fall to see 

 the Rattling Locust (CEdipoda sulphured), which perhaps he had mistaken for a piece of 

 dirt, suddenly spring up at his feet, spread its handsome sulphur-coloured and black 

 under-wings, and fly off with a series of snaps which sounds like an explosion of derisive 

 laughter 1 



But the most interesting instances of Mimetic Analogy, are those wherein one 

 species of animated creatures bears a resemblance to another with which it consorts. 

 When the apple-trees are in blossom, great numbers of large humble bees, noisy, fierce, 

 well armed fellows, which neither boy nor bird would have the hardihood to molest, may 

 be seen hovering over the blossoms. But, mingled with them, and closely resembling 

 them in size, colour and mode of flight, will be found the yellow-belted moth, Amphion 



<. and the " Clear wings," Macroglossa pelasgus and Macroglossa diffinis. A fear of 

 the bees secure^ the moths, just as, in the east, a wholesome dread of the military escort 

 saves the peaceful traveller from the Bedouins. 



In South America, there are certain butterflies which have an offensive odour — sa 

 bad an odour that the birds and the drasron-flies will not honour them with their attention. 



