Correspondence. 208



MAGPIE MOTH LARV/E (ABRAXAS GROSSU-

LARIATA) AS BIRD FOOD.


Dear Dr. Renshaw, — Dr. Collinge’s observations on the

edibility of Abraxas grossulariata should prove exceedingly interesting

to Prof. Poulton and many others, who have always considered it

(upon almost overwhelming evidence) as one of the larva) most

generally avoided by European birds. *


On the other hand, another gooseberry caterpillar (Ilalia vauaria)

is freely eaten, and is a favourite food of the Titmice, as I have pointed

out previously.


If you offer the larvae of Abraxas to a frog, it licks it up at once,

and then the tongue is protruded to its utmost limit and the caterpillar

steps off and strides away unhurt. If you put one into a spider’s web

the owner cuts away the surrounding threads and lets it drop out, or

if the web be funnel-shaped the spider retires to the back and lets the

caterpillar walk away. I have never known a lizard, a British bird,

or a fowl to devour a single specimen of this caterpillar, so that

Dr. Collinge’s observations strike me as remarkable ; on the other hand,

Mr. Page says that his Weaver-birds devoured larva; of Abraxas, and

my Bluebirds, although they rejected the larvae, ate the perfect insect

with pleasure. — Yours very sincerely,


A. G. Butler.



PRACTICAL AVICULTURE.


Stoke Lodge,


London Road,


Guildford.


Dear Dr. Rensttaw, —Aviculture is a great hobby with me,

and I endeavour to save others from my unprofitable mistakes. Hence

my article on “ The proper Treatment of Foreign Birds in Winter ”,

published in the Avicultural Magazine about 101G. Two great truths

stand out in aviculture. One is that most birds do not require heat.

The other is that birds will not use a shelter all the time if they can



