9-1 The Queensland Naturalist. Vi'l. I. 
are often striped 'with lines of various hues that break 
up the surface and make them less noticeable. 
Large caterpillars are sometimes marked 'with diagonal 
lines like the branching veins of leaves : or are covered 
with formidable stinging hairs ; whilst others, still larger, 
frequently have conspicuous ocelli or eye-shaped spots, 
placed generally near the head, causing them to resemble 
small snakes or other rept les. Weismann has proved by 
experiment that little birds are actually afraid of these big 
larvae. Lord Avebury, too, mentions an interesting case 
of a large Indian caterpillar that has acquired the power 
of hissing. 
The Leaf-butterfly (Kallima inachis) is considered 
the finest example of Insect Protective Colouration, and 
is too Avell known to need description. Wallace was the 
first, I believe, to draw attention to the fact that it never 
settles on leaves, but upon the nearly upright twigs of 
bushes or trees whose leaves are dead and withered. 
In this position, he tells us, the wings fit closely back 
to back, “ concealing the antennae and head v'hich are 
drawn up between their bases. The little tails of the 
hind-wings touch the branch and form a perfect stalk 
to the leaf, which is supported in its place by the claws 
of the hinder pair of feet, which are slender and incon- 
spicuous. The irregular outline of the wings gives exactly 
the perspective e'lfect of a shrivelled leaf.” 
What struck him. however, as the most extraordinary 
part of the imitation was the manner in which leaves in 
every stage of decay are mimicked, the wings of some 
specimens appearing variously blotched and mildewed, 
or pierced with holes ; and in many cases irregularly 
covered with ]>owdery black dots gathered into patches 
and spots, so closely resembling the various kinds of minute 
fungi that groAv on dead leaves, that “ it is impossible,” 
he says, “ to avoid thinking at first sight that the butterflies 
themselves have been attacked by real fungi.” 
The “ YelloAv Wood Nymph ” butterfly {Heteronym'pha 
merope), which has a Avide range over the Australian conti- 
nent, has evolved somewhat similar protective colouring 
on the under surface of its lower Avings, so that when resting 
on the dead leaves strewing the ground beneath gum 
trees it is not at all a conspicuous object. “ The female 
has the Avings beautifully marked with orange yellow 
and black, and when dying is readily seen, but upon 
the approach of danger it circles away a little distance, 
and settling suddenly upon the withered leaves, shuts up 
its AAungs, exposing to vicAV only the outer surfaces of the 
lower pair, whose colour affords ample protection by 
matching closely the tints of the surrounding leaves. When 
thoroughly alarmed it has a curious habit of resting side- 
ways, as in this position the wings are inclined at an angle, 
