52 
SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
include predatory insects such as certain Mantidse and dragon 
flies. The twig-mimics include the stick insects or Phasmidse, 
some water bugs, and many caterpillars, members of at least three 
different orders of insects, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, and Lepidop- 
tera. The leaf-mimics include such remarkable creatures as the 
leaf insects of the genus Phyllium , living examples of which 
have been exhibited for some months at this Museum, showing a 
striking resemblance to the guava leaves upon which they feed, 
sometimes actually nibbling at the flattened expansion of the 
bodies of their own kindred. 
A singular fact in connection with the stick and leaf insectg 
which belong to allied families of Orthoptera is that their eggs 
closely resemble plant seeds. 
Another still more celebrated example of leaf-mimicry is 
afforded by the Nymphalid butterflies of the genus Kallima, a 
fine series of the Ceylonese species, K. philarchus from Haputale, 
being on exhibition at the Museum. 
The object of the present note is to bring forward a further 
example of leaf-mimicry which is by no means so well known, if 
indeed it has ever been published. I am not aware that it has 
been described before. It is a case in which a marine fish 
resembles, almost to distraction, a faded leaf. This may appear 
extremely improbable, and of course it should be seen to be 
believed. 
In March, 1903, a gentleman, Mr. R. Gordon-Smith, brought to 
the Museum for identification several small fishes which he had 
captured in the Colombo Harbour. They were examples of the 
so-called sea bats, Platax vespertilio , family Carangidse. These 
fishes are remarkable for their thin wafer-like body and greatly 
elongated dorsal and anal fins. 
At my request Mr. Gordon-Smith was good enough to write a 
letter to me detailing the circumstances under which the specimens 
were obtained. He wrote as follows from the Galle Face Hotel 
under date March 22, 1903 
“ Respecting the 4 sea bats ’ (Platax vespertilio) which I left 
with you, I regret to say that I am unable to spare them as I send 
all my strange fish to Mr. Boulenger and the British Museum ; if, 
however, they have them there I shall see that they are sent back 
to Colombo, as they appear to be rare here.*. 
“ The specimens in question (of which there are three) were 
observed by me about ten days ago while fishing from the inside 
of the breakwater within about 100 yards of the end. The three 
* One of the specimens was kindly sent back to the Colombo Museum by 
Mr. Gr. A. Boulenger, F.R.S., on behalf of Mr. G-ordon-Smith in the following May. 
