34 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



lichens that cover the trunk of an old 

 tree that he has good eyesight who will 

 not pass over more than he sees. Many 

 other species imitate the grey lichens 

 that occur on the trees on which they 

 sit. Acrorvycta rumicis may be taken 

 as an illustration of this class of resem- 

 blances, but there are very many species 

 similarly marked. Bryophila perla and 

 glandifera sit on walls, on the lichens 

 growing on which the larvae feed. Both 

 these species are exactly like weathered 

 limestone or like mortar, while the 

 greenish shades on glandifera imitate 

 the hue of the lichens. The larvaat of 

 both these species are similarly coloured 

 and marked. 



The likeness of the Lappet moths 

 fLasiocampa quercifolia and ilicifoliaj to 

 a withered leaf has often been noticed. 

 Possibly this likeness may have some- 

 thing to do with the extreme rarity of 

 the latter species. Our space will not 

 permit further illustrations here as we 

 must refer to one or two resemblances 

 among larvae. 



The general similarity of hue in 

 larvae to that of their food may not seem 

 very remarkable, but some instances have 

 been pointed out that are well worthy of 

 notice. It has been observed, for in- 

 stance, that the larva of the Emperor 

 moth fSaturnia carpinij which feeds on 

 heather, is exactly of the same shade of 

 green, as the young leaves of heather, 

 while the pink spots that adorn it are 

 equally like the flower buds. The 

 various shades of green assumed by 

 larvae feeding on plants of difi'erent hues 



is worthy of notice. The larva of the 

 Mallow moth, Euholea cervinatOf is pre- 

 cisely of the pale watery green of the 

 stalks of the mallow, which it also 

 resembles in thickness and in being 

 slightly hairy. On the other hand, the 

 larva of Heliothis marginata is generally 

 of the same very dark green as the 

 leaves of the rest-harrow. Many other 

 cases might be cited, but we must speak 

 for a moment of twig-like larvae before 

 we leave the subject. Many larvae of 

 geomeira are exactly like a twig of the 

 tree on which they live. That of A, 

 hetularittj for instance, is just like the 

 smaller twigs of a birch tree, while R, 

 cratcegata is exactly like that of the 

 white thorn. Even the little promi- 

 nences, leaf buds, &c., on these twigs 

 have their counterpart in the humps of 

 the larva. These twig-like larvae have 

 also a peculiarity that adds greatly to 

 the protection afforded by the resem- 

 blance. They have the habit of sitting 

 extended at full length, holding by the 

 anal claspers only, and, to add to the 

 deception, the true legs generally are 

 laid so close to the body as to be scarcely 

 visible. Other loopers sit lengthwise 

 on the underside of the midrib of a 

 leaf which they then resemble in colour 

 and thickness. But our space is more 

 than exhausted though we have scarcely 

 touched the subject. Our readers must 

 observe for themselves, and perhaps the 

 few hints we have given will enable 

 them to see some of the modes by 

 which these little creatures are protected 

 from their enemies. 



