separate, glistening, nearer ones. Thus the scheme departs from true mimicry 

 and approaches obliterative coloration, as it has already departed from simple 

 mimicry by the fact of its simulating more than one absolute foreground object. 

 This is one of the uncommon and noteworthy cases where an element of oblitera- 

 tive coloration is present without obliterative shading. The caterpillar's head 

 is marked with red and yellow, in close imitation of the scales at the bases of 

 the needles — and it usually rests with its head against or near these scales. 

 It is a kind of sphinx, and, as far as we know, it feeds exclusively 

 on pine. Indeed, its mimetic resemblance to pine needles has been com- 

 mented on by entomologists. In the picture, No. i is a back view, No. 2 a 

 side view. 



We have now, in the matter of caterpillars, reached the end of our material. 

 The forms mentioned and figured are, as has been said, only a very few out of 

 an enormous number. We ourselves have found many other equally note- 

 worthy ones, which for various reasons we have failed to figure. Among the 

 most interesting of those omitted is the caterpillar of one of the Lappet moths, 

 which achieves in a remarkable way very simple mimicry of a slight protub- 

 erance on a thick tree branch (the sort of perch on which it, unlike most cater- 

 pillars, is wont to rest). Its body is much flattened, and fits closely to the 

 branch; and it is marked, irrespective of the scattered hairs, in close imitation 

 of the bark. There is no light-and-shade gradation, and the shadowed sides 

 of the caterpillar, as well as the shadowed crevice which would show between 

 it and the bark, are beautifully bridged over by an obliquely descending fringe 

 of numerous hairs. So slight is the larva's actual surface-rotundity, indeed, 

 that under favorable conditions it doubtless seems to merge with the flat or 

 slightly rounded bark-surface ; so that this is another caterpillar whose disguise 

 in part achieves 1 obliteration ' without counter shading. 



We have at least figured and described enough widely diverse caterpillar 

 disguises to suggest the wonderful richness of this great field of study, still 

 almost unexplored. Anyone who will devote a few late summer and early 

 autumn days to caterpillar hunting, along wooded roadsides — finding them by 



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