LOOTERS, LEAF-INSECT, AND LAPPET-MOTH, 149 



disappeared, and the stones and logs, instead of running after 

 me, ran in the opposite direction. 



" I never was more astonished in my life, for so complete 

 was the deception that even up to the time I fired I could hpve 

 declared the objects before me were vegetable or mineral— ^ 

 anything, indeed, but animal. The fact was that the cunning 

 rascals who represented stones were lying flat, with their little 

 round shields placed before them as screens." 



This stratagem is shown on the right hand of the illustration. 



On the left are a few of the innumerable instances in Nature 

 where Concealment is obtained by imitation. 



The three examples which are here given are familiar to all 

 entomologists. 



The upper figure represents two of the Geometra or Looper 

 Caterpillars, as they appear when at rest, and affixed to a twig. 

 This appears to be a singular attitude of rest, but it is one 

 in which they delight, and in which they remain for hours 

 together, the claspers at the end of the body tightly grasping 

 the branch, and the whole body held out so straight and 

 motionless that it is hardly possible to believe that a veritable 

 twig is not before the eye. The colour is that of the twig, 

 and the different segments of the body look exactly like the 

 little irregularities and projections of a young twig. 



I have more than once seen a novice in entomology unable 

 to distinguish these larvse, even when the branch was pointed 

 out, and there were several upon it. 



Just below the Loopers, and on the left hand of the illus- 

 tration, is shown the well-known Leaf-insect {Phy Ilium). 

 These strange beings have the elytra and the flattened 

 appendages of the legs so exactly like leaves that the most 

 experienced eye can scarcely distinguish them from the leaves 

 among which they are placed. Even when they have been on 

 a small plant, such as a myrtle in a flower-pot, I have had the 

 greatest difficulty in finding them, and have seen people examine 

 the plant, and then go away declaring that no insects were on it. 



On the right hand, and just below the looper caterpillar, is 

 the common Lappet-moth of this country, shown in its position 

 of rest. 



When it assumes this attitude, it looks exactly like a withered 



