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The Descent of Man

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for the normal colour <strong>of</strong> the Order to which the<br />

Leptalides belong."<br />

BRIGHT COLOURS OF CATERPILLARS.<br />

Whilst reflecting on the beauty <strong>of</strong> many butterflies,<br />

it occurred to me that some caterpillars<br />

were splendidly coloured; and as sexual selection<br />

could not possibly have here acted, it appeared<br />

rash to attribute the beauty <strong>of</strong> the mature<br />

insect to this agency, unless the bright colours<br />

<strong>of</strong> their larvae could be somehow explained.<br />

In the first place, it may be observed that<br />

the colours <strong>of</strong> caterpillars do not stand in any<br />

close correlation with those <strong>of</strong> the mature insect.<br />

Secondly, their bright colours do not serve<br />

in any ordinary manner as a protection. Mr.<br />

Bates informs me, as an instance <strong>of</strong> this, that the<br />

most conspicuous caterpillar which he ever<br />

beheld (that <strong>of</strong> a Sphinx) lived on the large<br />

green leaves <strong>of</strong> a tree on the open llanos <strong>of</strong><br />

South America; it was about four inches in

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