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Show 250 MR. E. B. POULTON ON THE PROTECTIVE [Mar. 1, TABLE V. Species and Stage. Imago Tryphcena fimbria .. Imago Tryphcena orbona ... Imago Tryphcena pronuba.. Imago Anthocelis pistacina. Imago Euplexia lucipara... Imago Amphipyra pyra-midea. Imago Hadena oleracea ... Protective resemblance, or habits of concealment, evasion, &c. 3. LEPIDOPTEEOUS Flight rapid : at night. By day very well concealed, probably near the ground and among dead brown leaves. Fore wings and part of body different shades of brown, and also olive-green in other varieties, with paler and darker markings and lines. Hind wings orange, with a broad black border, seen in flight, and with the orange and black on the undersides suggest, in the rapid motion, a yellow leaf blown by the wind. Probably the significance of tbe markings and the habits are the same as in the next species. Flight rapid: at night; not so easily disturbed by day as T. pronuba, but the same rapid flight and habits of concealment &c. if it is disturbed. The colours and protective resemblance are much the same as in the last species. Flight rapid: at night, and also easily disturbed by day, when it flies with great speed, rising very quickly and dropping down (always into good shelter of brown leaves &c.) equally quickly. The whole process is very unlike the flight of a Moth, and the colour and movement suggest a yellow leaf lifted off the ground by a gust of wind, whirled away for a certain distance, and then suddenly falling again ; so exact is this resemblance, that I have rarely been certain of the Moth until it had flown a long way. If tracked down and followed the Moth rises again very readily. This resemblance is chiefly due to the brown of the fore wings, aided by the yellow and black of the hind wings and the undersides. At rest it is extreaiely well concealed by the varying brown shades of the fore wings and part of the body exposed. It seeks dark corners, and hides deeply among thick leaves or among dead leaves on the ground. It is also very strong and slippery, and hard to hold when caught {Jenner Weir). I have also noticed this feature. I should add that Jenner Weir has another theory (alluded to below) as to the meaning of yellow and black underwings. Flight rapid: at night; by day well concealed and seldom seen. The parts seen at rest vary much in colour, being brownish, reddish, or of different grey tints with faint darker markings. Flight rapid: at night. Very seldom seen at rest, and evidently well concealed, probably in dark corners and among dead leaves. Fore wings and part of body alone seen are rich brown with pale markings and a white mark on the wing. Flight rapid : at night; by day well concealed and very seldom seen. The parts seen at rest are brown and grey-brown, with paler and darker markings. Flight rapid: at night. At rest well concealed and seldom seen. Fore wings and part of body seen are reddish brown, with a narrow white line and two light spots on wings. Resembling bark or dead leaves &c. |