. Nature sketches in temperate America, a series of sketches and a popular account of insects, birds, and plants, treated from some aspects of their evolution and ecological relations . g of the color forms. Where intricate adaptations appear in the adult, suchas I have just illustrated, it not infrequently happens that theearly stages, or instars, in their life history are afforded similarmechanisms of protection. I was much surprised one day later in August to find a leaflessstem of a bush along the wayside adorned at the top by whatlooked like, at first glance, some floral display. My error
. Nature sketches in temperate America, a series of sketches and a popular account of insects, birds, and plants, treated from some aspects of their evolution and ecological relations . g of the color forms. Where intricate adaptations appear in the adult, suchas I have just illustrated, it not infrequently happens that theearly stages, or instars, in their life history are afforded similarmechanisms of protection. I was much surprised one day later in August to find a leaflessstem of a bush along the wayside adorned at the top by whatlooked like, at first glance, some floral display. My error wassoon discovered when the branch was pulled down for closerinspection. This pseudo-floral form was shown to consist ofnumerous Datana caterpillars grouped together in a bunch,in such a way as to produce the illusion of a flower. Each littleyellow striped caterpillar had selected its place, acting its partinstinctively. Both ends of the body of each larva were curvedoutwards, and all seemed as rigid and motionless as the petalsof a flower. (See plate photographic illustration.) These little gregarious caterpillars still immature, were PROTECJnK UESKMI!I,.\XCE, WITH EXAMJLES 91. Dafana Caierpiltars grouped at the top of a branch in simulation of afloHer. The;/ are striped and marked with bright learning colors, and they disgorge a yelloicish fluid when threatened. 92 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA five-eighths of an inch in length. They were warningly coloredyellow and striped with reddish brown. The head and legs,together with the last joint, which has two hairy appendages,were intense black. Their bodies were sparingly covered withquite long whitish hairs. When touched, these caterpillarsdisgorged a yellowish fluid from their mouths, which rnightmake them distasteful to birds. While I have shown the protection afforded the imago andlarva, the eggs of Datana do not share this immunity. Theyare open to the attacks of parasitic Hymenoptera. The speciesknown as D. interrig
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectins
