1912.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 327 



minor part in the experiments, caged as they were with a variety 

 of larger birds; the Mesia had an exceedingly brief trial, and the 

 Anthracoceros was tested principally with dead and dry insects left 

 over from experiments with other birds. Finn remarks that of two 

 individuals of this last species, one did not care for insects at all; 

 the other on some occasions had to be coerced into eating insects 

 of the supposedly palatable kinds. 



In commenting upon the significance of his experiments Finn puts 

 an emphasis on order of choice between insects, which the writer 

 does not consider justifiable. These as all other experiments are 

 to determine what will be eaten, and the fact that insects not eaten 

 in the presence of the experimenter, as a rule, were devoured before 

 his next visit or the next morning, shows the futility of drawing fine 

 distinctions as to apparent preferences. 



More than 123 butterflies which were left in the cages were eaten 

 in the absence of the experimenter or by birds not specified, and 

 more than 77 per cent, of them belonged to the "nauseous" group. 

 About seventy-two butterflies remained uneaten overnight, though 

 it should be remarked that many of these were taken later the next 

 day. Of the seventy-two, about 85 per cent, belonged to the "nau- 

 seous" group, a percentage practically no different than in the case 

 of those eaten. It is worthy of note that the number of butterflies 

 left uneaten is definitely stated in every case, while those eaten are 

 often included in general terms, as "some," "several," etc. In 

 making these calculations, "some" has been reckoned as two; 

 undoubtedly it sometimes meant more. These expressions occur 

 nineteen times for the "nauseous" group among the butterflies 

 eaten in the absence of experimenter, only once for the "palatable" 

 group, and not at all in the case of butterflies left over. Hence 

 there is no doubt as implied above that the proportions of these 

 groups are about the same in the butterflies eaten as in those left 

 over. 



In the following table are shown the approximate numbers of 

 acceptances and rejections upon trial of both the "nauseous" and 

 "palatable" groups of insects. Species of the former group used are 

 Acrcea violce, Danais chrysippus, D. genutia, D. limniace, Delias 

 eucharis, Euploea sp., Euproctis sp., Mylabris sp., Papilio aristo- 

 lochice, and Terias sp. The principal species of the "palatable" 

 group are Catopsilia sp., Junonia sp., Elymnias undularis, Papilio 

 demoleus, P. polites, Huphina phryne, Hypolimnas misippus, Nephe- 

 ronia hippia, Atella phalanta, and Neptis kamarupa. 



