The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-30
Mlmlcry Among the BUTTERFLIES.

Mimicry Among the Butterflies.
We are all inclined to think that if
anything be remarkably we'll done in
the way of imitation, it must be the
work of men. You know how a piece
of white pine, by means of little
deft handling with oils and stains, is
made to look like oak, cherry or ma
hogany; how steam and machinery
turn out rugs that are limitations of
marvellous creations made in far-off
eastern countries; but these very
Turks and Persians, whose beautiful
creations are so commonly initiated,
are themselves borrowers. If we would
know whence come their wonderful
designs for rugs and shawls, we must
peer into the dim thickets of the In
dian jungles. Here. amid tangled
vines and heavy foliage, in the glaring
streaks of light and under heavy shad-
ows, we find some at least, of their
models, the butterflies and moths of
these forests, fitting about on gauzy
wings. and wearing shimmering satin
coats, full of variegated splendor of
opalescent transparency and magnifi-
cent color.
One family displays on the very tip
Of it's wings a spot that looks for all
the world like the eye of the cobra,
the dread of the jungle. With this
ever-present protection, the airy crea-
ture flies about. and, on the approach
of some bird of prey or other enemy, it
lights on the branch of tree, leaving
the end of its wing, with its horrible
cobra eye, hanging over the edge, and
soon all danger is past. The beautiful
sunlight and shadow moth is pro-
tected wherever it goes. Should it fit
into the open sunshine, its wings be-
come transparent things, that defy ac-
curate detection in the flecking light
Back in the shade all is still we'll, for
it's rapid movements produce effective
waves of dark and light, so that it is
always pretty safe. Even more remark
able is the leaf butterfly" the upper
surface of whose wings, when they
are spread, shows a variegated color
ing, while the underside resembles a
dull brownish leaf. So the owner turns
its robe inside out, not on the APP
proach of sudden shower, but on the
slightest notice of danger, and to the
hungry bird it looks like nothing but
half-dead leaf clinging to twig, and
the closest scrutiny would fail to de-
tect the brilliance that it shows when
seen with outspread wings. A near
relative of the leaf-butterfly, adopting
similar trickery is the frequently
found fungus Of the forest. But the
tricky imitators are not the only ones
that appeal to our curiosity The In
dian shawl butterfly is one Of the most
beautiful and interesting of the forest
creatures. From it's varied patterns
and combinations of color, the Oriental
has caught many an idea of design.
This time the forest creature is the
lender and men are the borrowers, but
not the only ones, as several kinds of
moths are found that have appropriat-
ed some of the designs of their beauti-
full fellow-butterflies of the shawl-pat-
tern wings. In the same region flut-
tiers about glossy black butterfly
with patches on it's wings, which re-
laid bits of pearl. There is also the
spider-web moth, and we can easily
imagine the value of it's protecting
mimicry. South America is equally
rich in the number and variety of its
moth and butterfly creation. The tor
toise shell butterfly and the zebra but
terfly explain their own names. Among
other specimens there is a curious
creature with red upper wings, while
the lower ones are light, with tho
marking SO plainly visible; and there
is butterfly that makes loud snap
ping noise with its wings. In Hondu-
ras lives the owl butterfly, the mark
ings of whose wings resemble the head
Of an owl. One interesting European
imitator closely resembles a flower,
while another has its wings ornament
ed with the grewsome death's-head
Our own Massachusetts produces
specimens that, to the general observ-
er, seem to have delicate pink wings,
but closer investigation shows on one
surface the skillful reproduction of the
bark of tree. Florida gives us the
dogs head butterfly; and so we might
go on finding new marvels in this
world of imitation, all telling the same
stok of the endless variety and fertil-
ity Of device in Nature Maud Burn.
side in Philadelphia Times.