THE COLORATION PROBLEM. 101 



Moreover, my brother and I can both aver that we have watched the 

 Dartford Warbler {Melizophiltts iindotiis) on several occasions feeding 

 itself and its young on Catoptria nlicetana, Oraphnlitha plunihana, and 

 such small fry obtained by a careful and systematic hunt in bushes of 

 Ule:r europaea. It starts at the ground and works to the top of the 

 bush, and then flies to the next bush and does likewise ; yet no orni- 

 thological work we possess, or have referred to, says much more than 

 that Melizophilns undatiis feeds on small insects of various orders. 



Although apparently Lieut. -Col. Manders considers attacks during 

 flight are to be considered casual playing, and he seems to regard 

 them in much the same way as some fishermen regard salmon rising 

 to a fly, I difter from him, and will now give attacks that have obtruded 

 themselves upon our notice. 



1. Corviis mnnedula (Jackdaw). May 1st, 1908. Bumble-bee sp. 

 —In the Wimborne Road, Bournemouth. Persistent chase. This 

 insect is regarded as distasteful. (See R. I. Pocock, loc. cit.). 



2. Aeschna //ramiis (Dragon-fly). July 28th, 1908. Pieru 

 brassicae. — Queen's Park Golf Links, Bournemouth. (Caddie and 

 partner interfered so the attack was not completed). 



3. P. dowesticiis (The Sparrow). July 28th, 1908. Cramhiis 

 tristelliis. — Attack unsuccessful. Queen's Park. 



4. P. doine.iiticnii (The Sparrow). August 2nd, 1908. P. brassicae. 

 — At Poole. Three attacks. One successful. 



5. P. do)iiesticHs (The Sparrow). August 3rd, 1908. P. brassicae. 

 — At Hambledon Hill. Six attacks, all unsuccessful. 



6. Capriinul(/us europaeus {Kight-ja,v) '? May 22nd, 1909. Panaffra 

 petraria, dabera exantliemaria, Odontnpera bidentata. — ^Berewood. 

 Wings picked up in the ride. 



7. P. doniesticiis (The Sparrow). July Brd, 1910. Cidaria testata. 

 — Bournemouth. The insect was beaten to the ground by the sparrow 

 and then captured. 



8. P. domesticHs (The Sparrow). June 11th, 1911. Melanippe 

 rivata or M. sociata. — I put the insect up in Break Hill Wood. It was 

 promptly captured. 



9. Chloris chloris (Greenfinch). July 20th, 1911. Epinephele 

 jitrtina (janira) or E. tithonus. — At Stapehill. Observed by E. H. 

 Curtis ; the attack was successful. 



10. Ci/pselns apiis (The Swift). July 21st, 1911. Vanessa io.— 

 Released from breeding cage at Poole. Insect evaded the bird. 

 (E.H.C.) 



11. P. (/o'we.s'«/:c»s (The Sparrow). September 8th, 1911. Pumicia 

 phlaeas. — At Poole. Successful. 



12. Accentor modularis (Hedgesparrow). September 26th, 1911. 

 Plusia r/ainnia. — At Poole. The bird " mufted " it, and only got a bit 

 of wing. (E.H.C.) 



13. P. duinesticiis (The Sparrow). May 17th, 1912. Melanippe 

 ^iuctnata. — At Poole. (E.H.C.) 



13. P. domesticus (The Sparrow). May 26th, 1912. Pieris rapae. 

 —At Poole. (E.H.C.) 



14. Embeviza citrinella (Yellow Bunting). July 26th, 1912. 

 Lasiocaiiipa ijnercm <? . — At Wicken, Cambs. The insect was too nimble 

 for the clumsier bird. 



15. Stimia vulgaris {m^kvling). July, 1912. Moth sp. ?— Morley 

 Houghton at Wicken, Cambs. 



