The leader., 1897-04-21
INSECT USE OF DISCUSSES.
Ruse of n Cricket Pursued by n Liz.
Rrd-MOths That Change Color,

ard-Moths That Change Color.
THE Protective Value of Action,
Volitional or Otherwise, in Protective
Mimicry" was the title of a paper re-
Gently read in the Museum of Natural
History to members of the New York
chronological society.
The author of the paper was Prof.
T. M. Webster, of Wooster, o. 1t is the
custom of the chronological society to
avail itself of the result of researches
carried on in different parts of the coun-
try, although the original investigator
may not be able to present his views in
person.
Many naturalists object to the term
protective mimicry" on the ground
that it involves yolition, which, they
claim, cannot be said to exist in insects.
They maintain that whatever immuni-
ty from injury may come to some in
sects through their resemblance to GER
tain objects is purely the result of nat
ural selection.
However this may be, the paper went
on to tell of some marvellous instances
of insects escaping destruction by
some larger bird or animal or capture
by some Jealous naturalist. A hunter
III tropical regions tells of seeing a
cricket pursued around the trunk of a
tree by lizard. Suddenly the insect
settled itself in slight depression IN
t he bark. spread out its wings slightly
and so fattened itself that the lizard
came upon it, fairly crawled over it
and went away without even knowing
what had become Of its prey.
Another variety of moth" continues
Prof. Webster, (which is quite common
around aim trees can be detected only
by the trained eye of the naturalist. 1t
has way of fixing its wings so that
they closely resemble spots on the bark
OF the tree or lichens, and the body is
passed unnoticed by the casual OBJ
server, who thinks that it is the remains
of moth upon which spider had
feasted. Watch one of these for awhile
and you will be surprised to see the sup
posed spots on the tree come to life and
the whole outfit fiutter away.
Another moth, whose colors are prin-
cipally pink and yellow, will so dispose
himself in the blossom of primrose
as to wholly escape notice. In Java,
Sumatra and others of the East Indies
there is variety of spider which prac
tees a most peculiar form of decep-
ton. They will repose on the upper
side of large leaf in such shape that
they perfectly resemble decayed mat
ter"
The paper closed with reference to
the more common instances of decep-
ton among insects and animals, such
as the ability of the 'possum to feign
death and that of caterpillars to lie
around on trees and shrubbery in imita.
ton of dead twigs.
"Shall we say, them" concluded Prof.
Webster, that all these instances show
nothing but instinct and no display of
intelligence or volition? These insects
certainly show intelligence enough to
protect their lives, and it certainly
seems as though there is present the
same conscious volition as there is in
the case of bird building a nest with
a view to living in it. There are doubt
less also elements of natural selection
and heredity in the action of these in
sects. A child is not born even with a
knowledge of the alphabet, although its
parents may have been highly educated.
But there is nevertheless hereditary
something, sort of foundation, perhaps.
which makes it easier for that child
10 master the alphabet. So, in the case
of insects, there is doubtless an inner
tied foundation which enables them
better to apply their protective decep-
tions"-N, Y Herald