COLORATION. l.">7 



Earthworms arc creatures that are generally acceptable to 

 insectivorous birds ; but there are three exceptions, which are 

 remarkable for different reasons. A gigantic species, reaching 

 to a length of six feet or more, which I described some years 

 ago,* from the Cape Colony, appears to be free from the attacks 

 of many animals. Mr. De Witt Meulen informed me that no 

 domestic animal whatever, including fowls, will touch them. 

 This instance may be used by those who are disposed to believe 

 in the theory of warning coloration, for the worm is very 

 conspicuous dark green above and reddish-yellow below. 

 Another exception is an equally large species from Australia, 

 whose habits and structure have been recently well described 

 by Prof. Baldwin Spencer: f this species is not conspicuously 

 coloured, but it has a powerful odour resembling that of creosote. 

 Fowls refuse to touch this worm, living or dead. There is little 

 doubt that in this case the powerful smell acts as a deterrent. 

 More remarkable still is the fact that our common earth wornisj 

 are refused by the Guinea fowl (Ntimida mitrata) and by the 

 blue tit and Great Spotted woodpecker ; no less than three 

 Guinea fowls declined to taste the worms, which are certainly 

 eaten by the common fowl. The comparatively large size may 

 perhaps have deterred the blue tit. The woodpecker seemed 

 afraid of it, only pecking at it once and rapidly recoiling when 

 it wriggled. 



The Tiger moth and the Leopard moth are particularly 

 referred to by Mr. Poulton as being inedible forms. They 



* Trans. Zool. Soc., vol xii. (1886), p. 63. 



t Trans. E<>y. Soc. Victoria, vol. i., Pt. I. 



J One of the most conspicuous of our British worms is the Brandling 

 (Allolobojrfiora fietida'), found upon dunghills ; it is conspicuously ringed 

 with dark brown and yellow. Dr. Stradling has told me that it was eaten 

 by several lizards kept by him, but that it caused them " epileptiform fits." 



' Colours of Animals," p. 175. 



