The Head And Antennae Are Drawn Back Between The Wings So As
To Be Quite Concealed, And There Is A Little Notch Hollowed Out
At The Very Base Of The Wings, Which Allows The Head To Be
Retracted Sufficiently.
All these varied details combine to
produce a disguise that is so complete and marvellous as to
astonish everyone
Who observes it; and the habits of the insects
are such as to utilize all these peculiarities, and render them
available in such a manner as to remove all doubt of the purpose
of this singular case of mimicry, which is undoubtedly a
protection to the insect.
Its strong and swift flight is sufficient to save it from its enemies
when on the wing, but if it were equally conspicuous when at rest it
could not long escape extinction, owing to the attacks of the
insectivorous birds and reptiles that abound in the tropical forests.
A very closely allied species, Kallima inachis, inhabits India, where
it is very common, and specimens are sent in every collection from
the Himalayas. On examining a number of these, it will be seen that
no two are alike, but all the variations correspond to those of
dead leaves. Every tint of yellow, ash, brown, and red is found
here, and in many specimens there occur patches and spots formed
of small black dots, so closely resembling the way in which
minute fungi grow on leaves that it is almost impossible at first
not to believe that fungi have gown on the butterflies
themselves!
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