蝴蝶有上千種類別，而且許多都各有獨特的保護色。例如翅膀顏色和花紋像極了樹葉、樹枝或石頭等等，當牠們以其做為掩飾，附著在上面時，其他動物以肉眼便不能輕易察覺牠們的存在。這種「保護色、偽裝」的意思，英文用字就是 camouflage (n.名詞 /v.動詞)

喜好觀察大自然的 盧勝彥大師在其文集「層層山水秀」 書內文章「蝴蝶的風采」，對於蝴蝶之生態有感而發的寫下：「我們驚訝於蝴蝶的『保護色』，牠們依附環境的色澤，改變自己的體色，令敵人分不清牠們的藏身之處。我突然領悟到：

『愈是怕死的，反而死得愈快。』其實蝴蝶的壽命不是很長，舞過一陣子就死了。但是，在短短的生命之間，牠們仍然很怕死，任何一種動物，都可以主宰牠們的命運，通常蝴蝶沒有反抗的餘地，祇有任人宰割，所以牠們必須自己保護自己。」英譯如下：

〝We were surprised by the camouflage of butterflies. They are able to adjust to their surroundings by changing their body colors, so that enemies cannot detect their hiding place.

Suddenly I realized: "Those who fear death, actually die faster." The life of a butterfly does not extend beyond a short period of dances. Yet, during that short period, butterflies are still fearful of death. Any one kind of animal can domineer their lives, the butterflies usually have no way of striking back, so they must camouflage themselves.〞{Translated by Yuan Zheng Tang Translation Committee}

《英語詞彙(English Vocabulary) 》

adjust：調整、適應境遇

hiding：隱藏、躲避

extend：擴展、延續

domineer：對…飛揚跋扈、

專橫地統治

striking：打、攻擊