144 MR. C. N. BARKER 



butterflies. The butterfly is a diflicult prize for a bird to 

 capture, and with its small body and large wings a poor 

 reward, when there are so many other insects, near to 

 hand, which afford a much easier prey and a larger re- 

 compense. I have no hesitation in saying that for every 

 butterfly (in Xatal) destroyed by birds hundreds fall 

 victims to other enemies in tlie imago, to say nothing of 

 the still greater losses in the larval state. It is difficult 

 to believe that natural selection can be so one-sided in 

 its action, as to perfect the insect against one (the lesser) 

 evil, whilst making no special provision for its safety 

 against other and greater evils. 



In predacious insects and their prey, by Prof. E. B. 

 Poulton, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1907, page 327, he has the fol- 

 lowing : — 



'' It seemed probable that the lessened exposure to 

 vertebrate enemies would be largely compensated for 

 by a relatively increased exposure to predacious in- 

 vertebrata and especially insects. And this convic- 

 tion has been confirmed even more fully than would 

 have been anticipated from the limited extent of re- 

 corded material. Thus it mil be found from Afri- 

 can records alone that the widely mimicked L. cry- 

 sippiis has been devoured by an Asilid fly, a large 

 Dragonfl}^ and a Locustid; while another species of 

 Locustid and a large wasp have been found eating 

 the larva. Attacks by predacious insects upon the 

 specially defended groups of coleoptera and upon 

 stinging hymenoptera ave also proportionately 

 numerous." 

 It is generally claimed that conspicuous colours are an 

 index to the distastefulness of a species, in reference to 

 their enemies the birds. With ^^ Avarning colours" is 

 generally associated less alertness and a more slugpsh 

 flight, and tliis is claimed as an additional proof of their 

 immunity. These qualities of conspicuousness and slug- 

 gishness naturally make them easier victims, for the 

 great majority of insects and other enemies that prey 



