登陆注册
5370200000117

第117章

But the insects of Celebes present us with other phenomena more curious and more difficult to explain than their striking individuality. The butterflies of that island are in many cases characterised by a peculiarity of outline, which distinguishes them at a glance from those of any other part of the world. It is most strongly manifested in the Papilios and the Pieridae, and consists in the forewings being either strongly curved or abruptly bent near the base, or in the extremity being elongated and often somewhat hooked. Out of the 14 species of Papilio in Celebes, 13 exhibit this peculiarity in a greater or less degree, when compared with the most nearly allied species of the surrounding islands. Ten species of Pieridae have the same character, and in four or five of the Nymphalidae it is also very distinctly marked. In almost every case, the species found in Celebes are much larger than thane of the islands westward, and at least equal to those of the Moluccas, or even larger. The difference of form is, however, the most remarkable feature, as it is altogether a new thing for a whole set of species in one country to differ in exactly the same way from the corresponding sets in all the surrounding countries; and it is so well marked, that without looking at the details of colouring, most Celebes Papilios and many Pieridae, can be at once distinguished from those of other islands by their form alone.

The outside figure of each pair here given, shows the exact size and form of the fore-wing in a butterfly of Celebes, while the inner one represents the most closely allied species from one of the adjacent islands. Figure 1 shows the strongly curved margin of the Celebes species, Papilio gigon, compared with the much straighter margin of Papilio demolion from Singapore and Java.

Figure 2 shows the abrupt bend over the base of the wing in Papilio miletus of Celebes, compared with the slight curvature in the common Papilio sarpedon, which has almost exactly the same form from India to New Guinea and Australia. Figure 3 shows the elongated wing of Tachyris zarinda, a native of Celebes, compared with the much shorter wing of Tachyris nero, a very closely allied species found in all the western islands. The difference of form is in each case sufficiently obvious, but when the insects themselves are compared, it is much more striking than in these partial outlines.

From the analogy of birds, we should suppose that the pointed wing gave increased rapidity of flight, since it is a character of terns, swallows, falcons, and of the swift-flying pigeons. Ashort and rounded wing, on the other hand, always accompanies a more feeble or more laborious flight, and one much less under command. We might suppose, therefore, that the butterflies which possess this peculiar form were better able to escape pursuit.

But there seems no unusual abundance of insectivorous birds to render this necessary; and as we cannot believe that such a curious peculiarity is without meaning, it seems probable that it is the result of a former condition of things, when the island possessed a much richer fauna, the relics of which we see in the isolated birds and Mammalia now inhabiting it; and when the abundance of insectivorous creatures rendered some unusual means of escape a necessity for the large-winged and showy butterflies.

It is some confirmation of this view, that neither the very small nor the very obscurely coloured groups of butterflies have elongated wings, nor is any modification perceptible in those strong-winged groups which already possess great strength and rapidity of flight. These were already sufficiently protected from their enemies, and did not require increased power of escaping from them. It is not at all clear what effect the peculiar curvature of the wings has in modifying flight.

同类推荐
  • 佛说众许摩诃帝经

    佛说众许摩诃帝经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三曼陀跋陀罗菩萨经

    三曼陀跋陀罗菩萨经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 送安律师

    送安律师

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 台湾资料清穆宗实录选辑

    台湾资料清穆宗实录选辑

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 水族无鳞单

    水族无鳞单

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 但得爱书人似我:过有思考的教书生活

    但得爱书人似我:过有思考的教书生活

    本书收录了作者从教20余年来的60多篇教育随笔,清晰勾勒了作者成长的历程。这些随笔,既有作者对教育理性而又深刻的批判,又有作者寻找有意义的教育的执着与坚守。本书分五辑,分别从读书、课堂、家教、师友、人生等五个维度,叙写了作者自我成长的精神之旅。本书作为“书生教师轻随笔书丛”之一。
  • THE ABC BUNNY

    THE ABC BUNNY

    An unfortunate accident with an Apple drives Bunny from Bunny land to m.wkkk.net letter in the alphabet is represented in Bunny's journey,through what he eats(Greens),to whom he meets,and then a little sleep(Nap),to Tripping back to town,right side Up and Up-sidedown.
  • 重生之唯我独仙

    重生之唯我独仙

    大修士萧焰,在渡劫之际被仇家暗算,却因此重生在少年时代,带着从前的雄厚积累,萧焰再踏仙途,逆天崛起!遗憾的,弥补!失去的,夺回!是兄弟的,再续情谊!是仇敌的,一概灭杀!王者临世,只手遮天,飞升不易,唯我独仙!书友群:128467830(旋风)
  • 史记(第十卷)

    史记(第十卷)

    《史记》,是由西汉时期的司马迁编写的中国历史上第一部纪传体通史,记载了从黄帝到汉武帝太初年间三千多年的历史。最初称为《太史公》,或《太史公记》、《太史记》。《史记》规模巨大,体系完备,而且对此后的纪传体史书影响很深,历朝正史皆采用这种体裁撰写。同时,书中的文字生动性,叙事的形象性也是成就最高的。
  • 末世之王者荣耀超神召唤师

    末世之王者荣耀超神召唤师

    末世来临,流星天降,全球生物变异,平凡学生林云得到王者荣耀召唤系统。丧尸猖狂想咬我,子龙何在,用你的天翔之龙解决它们。怪物嗜血想吃我,悟空你上,让它们感受一下你手里降妖伏魔的金箍棒的厚重。恶人阴险想害我,军师诸葛孔明算无遗策时空穿梭,能伤我一根汗毛算我输。这是一个纵横无敌,风骚无限的故事!
  • 人生可以走直线

    人生可以走直线

    生如浩瀚的大海,常常巨浪滔天、变幻莫测。在人生的旅途中,有的人一帆风顺、平步青云,在事业上获得了巨大的成功;而有的人在经历多年打拼后,却一事无成。是什么原因造就了两种截然不同的人生?本书将会告诉你答案:梦想与成功之间,最短距离应该是一条直线……
  • 第一萌婚:继承者的天价逃妻

    第一萌婚:继承者的天价逃妻

    她误惹恶魔BOSS!“那天,是不是你?”他把她逼至墙角,让她退无可退,“回答我,是、不是?”“不是!”当她知道他的真实身份,打死不肯承认。“那么,欣赏一下——”他拿出一截视频,将她彻彻底底砸醒。“我要你!”他一把捏住她的下颚,“不是地下交易,不是暧昧对象,做我女人,我娶你!”【每天固定一万字,通常晚间八点更新完】包月用户免费看!!!
  • 致盲世界

    致盲世界

    致盲计划,智械“影”,九号。解密引领张河走向真相。自欺欺人,眼见不一定为实
  • 办公室升职术

    办公室升职术

    《办公室升职术》讲述的是办公室处世之道,告诉你在办公室做人做事一定要机智灵活,懂得如何趋利避害,善于利用一切可以利用的资源,为自己的事业成功创造条件,把握晋升的机会和规律性,使自己的事业达到巅峰。办公室人士都想升职加薪、步步高升,直至出人头地。然而,世事总是难如人愿,不知多少人不得不在职场生涯中匍匐潜行。无论是谁,压力就像一张网,让你无所遁形。眼看你的同事,升迁的升迁,加薪的加薪,你却原地不动。这是怎么回事?也许你因此百思不得其解,甚至怨声不绝。出现这种情况,你有没有想过从自身来寻找原因?也许,你对“谋略”一词过于敬畏,也许,你对办公室的氛围过于陌生。但是,你必须承认这就是你一直是一个小职员的重要原因。
  • 海印三昧论一卷(并序)

    海印三昧论一卷(并序)

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。