The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-21

indicate the lateral veins of a leaf. These |
marks are more clearly seen on the outer por-
ton OF the base OF the wings, and on the inner
SIDE towards the middle and apex, and it is
very curious to observe how the usual margi-
MAJ ana transverse stre Of the group are here
modified and strengthened so as to become
aoaPted ior an imitation of the venaton of a
leat' we come now to still more extraordi.
nary part OF the imitation, for we find repre-
sentauons OF leaves in every STAGE of decay
Varlously blotched and mildewed and piereed
win holes, and in many cases irregularly
covered with powdery black dots gathered
INTO patches and spots, so closely resembling
the various kinds Of minute fungi that grow
on ueau leaves, that it is impossible to avoid
thinking, at first sight, that the butterfies
themselves have been attacked by real fungi.
but TINS resemblance, close as it is, would
Ue Oh nltie use IL the habits of the insect did
not accord with it, If the butterfly sat upon
leaves or upon flowers, or opened its wings so
as to expose the upper surface, or exposed
and moved its head and antennm as MANY other
butterflies do, its disguise would be of little
avail. We might be sure, however, from the
analogy of many other cases, that the habits
of the insect are such as still further to aid its
deceptive garb; but we are not obliged to make
any such suppOsition, since the present writer
has himself had the good fortune to observe
scores OF Kalama paralekta, in Sumatra, and
to capture many of them, and can vouCh for
the accuracy of the following details. These
butterflies frequent dry forests and fly very
swiftly. They were never seen to settle on
flower or a green Leaf, but were many times
suddenly lost sight of in a bush or tree of dead
leaves. On such occasions they were gene
rally searched for in vain, for while gazing
intently at the very spot where one had dis
appeared, it would often suddenly dart out,
and again vanish twenty or fifty yards further
on. On one or two occasions the insect was
detected reposipg; and it could then be seen
how completely it assimilates itself to the sur
rounding leaves. 1t sits on a nearly upright
twig, the wings fitting closely back
to back, concealing the antennte
and head, which are drawn up be-
tween their bases. The little tails of the hind
wing touch the branch, and form a perfect
stalk to the leaf, which is supported in its
place by the claws of the middle pair of feet,
which are slender and inconspicuous. The
regular outline of the wings gives exactly
the perspective effect of shrivelled leaf We
thus have size, color, form, markings, and
habits, all combining together to produce a
disguise which may be said to be absolutely
perfect; and the protection which it affords is
sufficiently indicated by the abundance of the
individuals that possess it.
We need not adduce any more examples to
show how important are the details of form
and of coloring in animals, and that their very
by these means concealed from their enemies.
This kind of protection is found apparently in
every class and order, for it has been noticed
wherever we can obtain sufficient knowledge
OF the details of an animals Gfe-history. 1t
varies in degree from the mere absence of con-
spicuOus color or general harmony with the
prevailing tints OF nature, up to such minute
and detailed resemblance to inorganic or vege-
table structures as to realize the talisman ofthe
a n uiU itS fha
of rendering itself invisible.
We will now endeavOr to show how these
wonderful resemblances have most probably
been brought about. Returning to the higher
animals, let us consider the remarkable fact of
the rarity of white coloring in the mammalia
or birds of the temperate or tropical zones in
state of nature. There is not a single white
land-bird or quadruped in Europe, except the
few arctic or alpine species to which white is a
protective color. Yet in many of these crea-
lures there seems to be no inherent tendency
to avoid white, for directly they are domesti-
Gated white varieties arise and appear to thrive
as well as others. We have white mice and
rats, white cats, horses, dogs, and cattle, white
poultry, pigeons, turkeys and ducks, and
white rabbits. Some of these animals have
been domesticated for a long period, others
only for few centuries; but in almost
every case in which an animal has been
thoroughly domesticated, parti-colored and
WuiIe varieties are pIOuuCeu ana become per-
manent.
1t is also well known that animals in a
state of nature produce white varieties
occasionally. Blackbirds, starlings, and crows
are occasionally seen white, as well as ele-
phants, deer, tigers, hares, moles, and many
other animals; but in no case is permanent
white race produced. Now there are no sta
tistics to show that the normal -cOOred pa
rents produce white offspring oftener under
domestication than in a state of nature and
we have no right to make such an assumption
II the facts can be accounted for without it.
But if the colors of animals do really, in the
various instances already adduced, serve for
their concealment and preservation, then
white, or any other conspicuous color, must
be hurtful and must in most cases shorten
an animals life. white rabbit would be
more surely the prey of hawk or buzzard
and the white mole, or field mouse could
not long escape from the vigilant owl. So,
also, any deviation from those tints best
adapted to conceal a carnivorous animal
would render the pursuit of its prey much
more difficult would place it at disadvan-
tage among its fellows, and in a time of
scarcity would probably cause it to starve
to death. On the other hand, if an animal
spreads from a temperate into an arctic
district, the conditions are changed. During
a large portion of the year, and Just
when the struggle for existence is most severe,
white is the prevailing tint of nature, and
dark cOloTs will be the most conspicuous The
white varieties will now have an advantage
they will escape from their enemies or will
secure food, while their brown companions
will be devOured or will starve; and, as 'like