1912.j natural sciences of philadelphia. 287 



Experiments with Invertebrates (Chiefly Insects). 



Since Professor E. B. Poult on, 7 the most prominent supporter 

 of the theories of warning and mimicking coloration, has come to 

 the conclusion, from proper data — that is, records of insects col- 

 lected with naturally captured prey — that predaceous insects in 

 general are enemies of the "specially protected" groups, it is not 

 necessary to review experiments relating to the food preferences of 

 insects. It is worthy of note, however, that some of these experi- 

 ments have often been quoted as affording support to the prevailing 

 theories. Poulton's latest conclusion is proof, therefore, that even 

 the ardent believers in the experimental method admit that an 

 "ounce" of proof as to natural behavior is worth a "pound" of 

 experimental evidence. 



An annotated bibliography of experiments upon invertebrates is 

 given for the benefit of those who may desire to consult the original 

 accounts. Those entries marked with an asterisk denote experi- 

 ments which were not undertaken with a view to testing protective 

 adaptations. 



Barlow, Edward. A short note on the Food-insects of the Mantis 



Heirodula bipapilla Serv. Proc. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, December, 



1894 (1895), pp. 138-139. 

 Ate Musca, Lucilia, and its own species, and killed but did not eat 



the Hemiptera, Cydopetia and Physomerus. 

 Belt, Thomas. The Naturalist in Nicaragua. London, 1888. 

 Experiments with Heliconii. "A large species of spider (Nephila) 



.... used to drop them out of its web when I put them into it. 



Another spider that frequented flowers seemed to be fond of 



them, and I have already mentioned a wasp that caught them to 



store its nest with" (p. 317). 

 Butler, A. G. Remarks upon certain Caterpillars, etc., which are 



unpalatable to their enemies. Trans. Ent. Soc. Land., 1869, 



pp. 27-29. 

 Spiders (Ereiba diadema and Lycosa) rejected larva? of Abraxas 



grossidariata and Halia wauaria (p. 28). 

 Embody, G. C. [Food of fresh-water Amphipods in aquaria]. Son- 



derabdruck aus Internat. Rev. d. ges. Hydrobiologie u. Hydro- 



graphie, Biol. Suppl., Ill, 1911 (1912), pp. 4-6. 

 Freshly killed isopods, snails, earthworms, tadpoles, and bits of 



fish, and beef were eaten, but planaria were refused. 

 [Food of Hydra] p. 31. 



Young Hyalella and Eucrangonyx were eaten. 

 Marshall, G. A. K., and Poulton, E. B. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 



1902. 



7 See Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1906, pp. 363, 364, 401, 403, and 408. 



