THE COLORATION PROBLEM. 99 



for their manner of life, and from all I can see seem to be able to see as 

 well at night as I can in the day-time ; so to assume that warning 

 coloration or cryptic coloration is lost on them is entirely gratuitous, 

 and does not account for the fact that according to my experience 

 white night-flying moths, such as Leucoma salicis, and Spilosotna 

 menthastri, are hardly ever taken. [Confer further remarks to much the 

 same end by Rev. K. St. Aubyn Rogers, loc. cit., p. 498). 



The following attacks at rest have come under my notice recently, 

 and lest the small number of these be used as an argument against me, 

 let me say at once I pass six days out of seven in an office in a town, 

 and have to get the entirety of my entomological work into the Sundays 

 and occasional vacation times, when this subject, though often present 

 to my mind, cannot receive that systematic attention it deserves. 

 This to some extent also accounts for the appearance of P. dumesticus 

 so many times, though P. doinesticiis is so far familiar with man as to 

 be very bold in his presence. 



1. P. doniestictis (the Sparrow), July 3rd, 1909. Rose aphis and 

 Tortrix larva. At Poole. — This bird was deliberately searching, and 

 is only quoted by reason of that. 



2. P. dome.sticus (the Sparrow), July 5th, 1910. A Tortrix. 

 Bournemouth. — Insect found by searching leaves of Ilex. 



3. Sitta caesia (the Nuthatch), May 14th, 1911. Small insects. 

 ■Cram^ites. Bloxworth.^ — ^Searching on grass on the ground at the 

 edge of a wood. 



4. Geciniis viridis (Green Woodpecker), 1911. Small insects, 

 Lepidoptera ? Kinson. — Searching in grass on the ground in an open 

 field. 



5. P. doiiiesticKs (the Sparrow), July 3rd, 1911. 21amestra 

 braasicae. — Taken at rest amongst herbage at Poole (E. H. Curtis). 



6. Stiirna vnU/aris (the Starling), August 3rd, 1911. A(jriades 

 coridon. — Captured sitting on grass. These insects were chipped or 

 worn, and were released by me in my garden, and settled on the 

 grass, as they were lethargic after confinement in a pill box. It is 

 possible that the starling may have seen me turn them out on the 

 grass, as the attack took place five or ten minutes after they were 

 released ; but, if so, the bird was very quick to recognise the provision 

 of an easy meal. 



7. Turdus mudcHK (Song Thrush), July 10th-26th, 1912. Leucania 

 impura. — Captured in a cornfield and brought to nest, at Wicken, 

 Cambs. The insect was undoubtedly taken at rest, because it was 

 middle day, and the bird flew up out of the corn with the insect, close 

 to where I was standing. (E. H. Curtis corroborates this.) 



8. LocHntella naevia (Grasshopper Warbler). July 10th-26th, 1912. 

 ■Crambites. — Many observed at Wicken. The bird was feeding young 

 in a tangle of brambles. I could not find the nest but watched the 

 bird make repeated journeys to the grass at the edge of a field of 

 barley and return with Crambites. It was a dull afternoon. (E. H. 

 Curtis corroborates this.) 



9. Certhia faiiiiliaris (Tree Creeper). May 12th, 1912. Lobophora 

 halterata. — ■ Birds feeding young in nest. There were no wings 

 outside the nest, which was in a crack in an ash tree, which 

 crack was opening and shutting about two inches so that I could 

 not put my hand in for fear of getting it crushed. I did not see 



