diminutive foes."[1] Canon Fowler, who has been recently writing on the Membracidæ (Homoptera), referring to the genus Sphongophorus, opines that, in some cases at all events, these forms are protective, for, when at rest, many of the insects must[2] resemble pieces of dry twigs."[3] One of the most interesting, but, to the writer, inexplicable, instances is given and figured by Dr. Gregory, as observed in Eastern Central Africa. In this case numbers of a species,—or of more than one,—of the homopterous sub-family Flatinæ (Ityraea nigrocincta) adhere to a stem, and closely resemble a flowering Transvaal plant (Sesamopteris pentaphylla). The observer adds:—"It may be that the insects were only rendered sluggish by the cold and rain, but it appears not unlikely that the members of this species have very limited powers of flight, and secured protection from birds by this ingenious mimicry of a cluster of flowers.[4] I have frequently seen other insects after heavy rain in the Transvaal follow the same habit without any protective resemblance being obtained.[5] A common orthopteron in La Plata (Rhomalea speciosa), when at rest, is "only a pretty Grasshopper; but the instant it takes wing it becomes the fac-simile of a very common Wasp of the genus Pepris."[6]
Prof. C. Emery has published, in the 'Bull. del Soc. Ent. Ital.' 1886, a short but interesting note on the habits of an Ant (Camponotus lateralis). Of this species there are two varieties—one black, like its nearest allies, the other red, with the abdomen and part of the thorax black. They live in small colonies, and make expeditions up trees to collect honeydew from the aphides. The black type (C. foveolatus, Mayr; C. ebeninus, Emery) sometimes go in troops, but generally a few join the troops of other
- ↑ 'Voyage to Cape of Good Hope,' Engl, transl. 2nd edit. vol. ii. p. 16.
- ↑ "Must" is an unfortunate expression, and in most arguments is equivalent to "it is evident," which the late Prof. Clifford described as meaning "I do not know how to prove." ('Lectures and Essays,' 2nd edit. p. 176.)
- ↑ 'Biologia Centrali-Americana,' Rhynch. Homopt. vol. ii. p. 26.—Whatever we may think of this suggestion, it is at least not more improbable than some banter which lately appeared in an American entomological work by Dr. Comstock, where we read that as regards the Membracidæ, "Nature must have been in a joking mood when Tree-hoppers were developed."
- ↑ 'The Great Rift Valley,' pp. 273–5, and figured on coloured frontispiece.
- ↑ Cf. 'Zoologist,' 1898, p. 256.
- ↑ W.H. Hudson, 'The Naturalist in La Plata,' p. 127.
