Abstract
PREVIOUS WORK.—Mr. T. W. Wood in 1867 published the observation that certain pupæ (Pieris brassicœ, P. rapœ, &c.) resemble in colour the surface on which they are found. Although this was disputed by some naturalists, it was confirmed by Mr. A. G. Butler and Prof. Meldola. In 1874 Mrs. M. E. Barber published some very striking observations on the colours of the pupa of Papilio nireus (South Africa), confirmation being afterwards afforded by Mr. Trimen, from the case of Papilio demoleus. Dr. Fritz Müller, however, shows that Papilio polydamus is not sensitive to surrounding colours. The observations were explained by supposing the moist skin of the freshly-formed pupa to be “photographically sensitive” to the colour of surrounding surfaces; but Prof. Meldola pointed out that there can be no real analogy with photography. Furthermore, many pupae are formed at night, when the surrounding surfaces are dark. The present investigation was undertaken with the belief that the influence would be found to work upon the larva as it rests upon some coloured surface before pupation.
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Abstract of Lecture delivered by Mr. Edward B. Poulton at the Royal Institution, on Friday, February II.
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Gilded Chrysalides 1 . Nature 35, 470–471 (1887). https://doi.org/10.1038/035470a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/035470a0