The Colours of Animals: Their Meaning and Use Especially Considered in the Case of InsectsK. Paul, Trench, Trübner, 1890 - 360 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
abundant ¿sthetic antenn¿ appearance attack beautiful become birds body bright Brimstone Moth brown butterflies caterpillar cause change of colour chrysalis cocoon colours and patterns colours of animals concealed conspicuous Danais dark Darwin defence dimorphic displayed in courtship effect eggs Emperor Moth enemies evidence examples experiments fact female fish food-plant Fritz Müller Garstang green groups hairs harmonise Hawk Moth Hymenoptera individuals insect insect-eating animals interesting large number larva larv¿ latter leaf leaves Lepidoptera light lizard males markings Meldola merope mimetic resemblances mimicked natural selection naturalists nauseous object observation Papilio pigment possess prey probably Proc produced Professor Meldola Protective Mimicry pupa pup¿ rendered seen sexual colouring Sexual Selection side skin Small Tortoiseshell specially protected species spiders stage suggested surface surroundings tail taste terrifying attitude theory tints tion twigs unpalatable unpleasant Variable Protective Resemblance variety Wallace Warning Colours wings winter yellow
Popular passages
Page 239 - the upper half of the lower wing is of a puro white, whilst all the rest of the wings is barred and spotted with black, red and yellow, like the species they mimic. The females have not this white patch, and the males usually conceal it by covering it with the upper wing, so that I cannot imagine its being of any other use to them than as an attraction in courtship, when they exhibit it to the females, and thus gratify their deep-seated preference for the normal colour of the Order to which the...
Page 305 - ... that all the females of a species, or the great majority of them, over a wide area of country, and for many successive generations, prefer exactly the same modification of the colour or ornament.
Page 164 - Others are dull earth-colored, and hide in holes or under logs. All these come out only at night to feed, and they are all preyed upon by snakes and birds.
Page 231 - MIMICRY 265 3. That the imitators are always less numerous in individuals. 4. That the imitators differ from the bulk of their allies. 5. That the imitation, however minute, is external and visible only, never extending to internal characters or to such as do not affect...
Page 168 - Bates was quite right, you are the man to apply to in a difficulty. I never heard anything more ingenious than your suggestion, and I hope you may be able to prove it true.
Page 25 - No more conspicuous animal can well be conceived, according to common idea, than a zebra, but on a bright starlight night the breathing of one may be heard close by you, and yet you will be positively unable to see the animal. If the black stripes were more numerous he would be seen as a black mäss; if the white, as a white one; but their proportion is such as exactly to match the påle tint which arid ground possesses when seen by moonlight.
Page 322 - There were also fungi and mottled insects placed on the turf. As soon as the objects are faded they are moved to the back of the hut.
Page 51 - Smerinthus ocellatus (and many others) nibble off each others' horns, and the wounded larvae, though they do not seem to be aware of the injury, lose a great deal of blood, and although they may recover are generally stunted ; and often I am sure the loss of blood proves fatal.
Page 299 - Now she dashes towards him, while he, raising his first pair of legs, extends them upward and forward as if to hold her off, but withal slowly retreats. Again and again he circles from side to side, she gazing towards him in a softer mood, evidently admiring the grace of his antics.
Page 164 - He cannot be mistaken for any other, and his flaming vest and blue stockings show that he does not court concealment. He is very abundant in the damp woods, and I was convinced he was uneatable so soon as I made his acquaintance and saw the happy sense of security with which he hopped about. I took a few specimens home with me...