The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-04-22
Colon AsAPRorEcrIoN.

grha IEiel-1and CInns aEGs che oaIy IhEn-B
Dressed FOR CoGraalHaezt.
Where lichcn-coVersd tree stems are
common we find lrehen-coIorsd cater
pillars moths and other insects A
pretty moth (Cle0rsl glabraEia}, not uHs-
common in the New Forest, IS white
busted with black and its larvss which
feeds upon deheua, is of the same color.
Some years ago while collecting insects
In that locality found in the same
tufts OF Hchen a small black and white
spider just as closely resembling the
iieheHs-
1t Is supposed that these various color
resemblances have been brought about
by the need for concaalment- A cater
pillar freq ting liGhsns or a bird ltv-
ing among leaves would be greatly adj
vantaged By a color resemblance to
their several surroundings hence VaEla-
tons in the required direction have es-
capped destruction, and there has been
through long ages q gradual pertecting
OF the rese m3lances. This IS the most
generally received explanation It &C
counts also for the colora tiol of animals
like the spider, to which have referred
which do not 50 much need protection
from their enemies as disguise with
the help Of which they can steal upon
their prey
We must however, guard against
I taking generaiitjes for granted without
a careful examination Of the several
cases Many years ago Messra- Kirby
and Spence called attention TO the re-
! aamblance between iichen-feeding in
I ssets and their food; MANY OF the mot
I tied moths W hich take their station OF
diurnal rePose on the north side OF the
[ trunks OF trees, are with difficulty dis
/ tinguished from the gray and green
/ lichens that cover them OF this kind
are Miselia aprilina and Acronyeta
] psi The caterpillara OF BryophilE
] algae, when it feeds on the yell
low Lich juniperinus, is always
/ yellow but when upon the gray
/ Liichen saEatilis, its hue becomes gray
/ This change Is probably produced by
I the color Of its food" The last SEN
/ bence contains a most noteworthy sug-
( gestiCu which may help us In explain
/ ing many similar ca sss OF celebration in
a much simpler way than by natural
! selection or natural elimination 1t is
/ well known tina the pigments which
/ are often the eau Sc OF the colors in ami
/ mails and always, except in the case OF
/ white Of plants, are extremely resist
1 ant to chemical action. Some of these
/ pigments viii pass unscathed through
/ the strongest acids ana the most power
full allzalis- 1t is quite conceivable
1 then, that they will be equally uuaf-
! 1ectsd by the che mical action OF an ami
/ malls digestive juices.
/ There is, however, no need at all for
/ theory upon this point; it has been
/ shown to be the case in several in
/ stances. DR.. Eisig found In the Medi-
/ terranean a species OF worm living In
the interior Of a sponge. The sponge
was a brilliant yellow, the color being
/ due to particles of a peculiar pigment
I deposited in its tissues. The worm was
also yellow, and it might be supposed
/ that this harmony had been brought
[ about by the necessity for coucealment
An inquisitive fish polzing its nose into
the interior of the sponge, in search Of
/ the various small creatures which con
stsntly take up their lOd gings IN such "a
/ spot. would pass over the ''protectively
cOlored" worm, and select one that was
obvious on account of its different
coIors. It was found, however, that
the color Of the worm was merely due
to particles of the colOring substance Of
the host, which had passed out Of the
intestine of the worm into its skin
/ BIacLEWood's Magazine.