The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-06-09

curious disconnected ba1belD Of fringed
flesh, in many cases the exact shsp3 Of
the sections of its vegetable home.
The backs of the crabs are similarly
painted by nature, different shades of
green 'fecked with white, and only by
careful examination can they be de-
tected.
The physalia, a hydroid animal, al
lied to the jelly fishes, affords an into
resting case of mimicry. The upper
part of the animal is merely a bubble
floating on the surface, surmounted
with q delicate pink membrane that
can be raised and lowered at will. From
the lower part descend numerous
punches of tentacles of the most intense
blue, that are for different purposes.
They are extremely poisonous, as they
conceal myriads of minute darts called
lasso cells, that instinctively are thrown
out like an exploding shell, piercing an
enemy. The writer can attest to the
power OF these minute projectiles. hav-
ing accidentally swan over one and
been rendered unconscious. The blue
mass had to be scraped from the body
with knives, and only by use of power
full stimulants was animation kept up.
A year after the occurrence the lace
like tracery of the marks could still be
seen. Close up among the death-deal-
ing darts are little fishes that evidently
find there home and protection. In
color they are the exact shade of the
tentacles, SO that close scrutiny is nee
essary to discriminate between them.
On the eastern coast a crab is found
living solely in the white sand and bur-
rowing in it. From its peculiar color,
or want of it, it is called the spirit crab.
Its movements are extremely rapid,
and it is such perfect mimic of the
beach in color that it cannot be observed
by birds. In wandering among the
prickly pear brush on one of the Florida
Keys, in search of their fruit, which
resembles fig, although OF rich pur-
pie in color, the writer was somewhat
astonished by being severely nipped by
what was mistaken for pear. Improved
to be an atrocious mimic. A crab with
purple back had lodged between the
branches, and when alarmed curled up
| its legs, appearing mimic of the fruit
Among the mangroves were innumer
able members of the Ptdsn1id9 family
insects that resemble dead and living
bare twigs and branches, and so grea
is the resemblance that a previous
knowledge of their character isrequireG
to detect them.
A walking stick comes from the Eas
Indies, over eight inches in length, anG
the peculiar woody appearance of it
| joints is most noticeable. Probably thu
most wonderful insect mimic, however
is the walking leaf, or phillium. Th,
wings when closed form perfect leaf
the legs are twigs, the color greenins
some, while in others curious morbiC
spots, similar to the butterfly above de
scribed, are shown. The veins of the
leaf can be followed exactly as the
radiate from the body, which is analo
gous to the mid vein of the leaf. fifth
reader possesses an oleander that doe
not thrive, let the leaves be closely ex
amined, and most consummate mimi
will be found sapping the life of tn
plant. A microscope Is needed to full
ly detect it-a mere scale of the exac
color of the leaf and fattened upon il
forming to the naked eye componen
part Of the tissues of the plant, ant
easily deceiving the horticulturist VIII
is puzzled at the dropping condition c
the plant.
In the examples cited the resemblanc
has been used as a protection, but ar
other class of animals use their cd
shapes to procure them living. Anon
them are the lophins of our coast an
many of the gurnards. Covered wit
fringed barbs of flesh and waving fin!
they lie among the muddy bottom weed
to all intents part and parcel of it, an
the unsuspecting fish, while swimmin
,, among these waving weeds, is engulfe
in the mouth of the mimic.-M =. San