48 Mr. C. F. M. Swynnertoii on 



state of their digestive capacities — was of the greatest 

 interest. Bill-rubbing (though also used merely to remove 

 fluff or saliva, &c.) is a widespread bird-term for refusal of 

 food, and I have (as stated in another paper) produced the 

 simultaneous wiping of several bills in various ditferently- 

 inhabited cages by merely holding up a highly unpleasant 

 insect in front of them. To almost close the bill on food 

 and then draw away expresses the same meaning, and was 

 indulged in by my captive Hollers too. 



Finally, we had the persistent refusal of Hypolimnas 

 misippus after an experience of its " model " D. chrysijypus. 

 That the relatively slight difference in appearance between 

 the two bodies was detected by, at any rate, C is also fairly 

 certain, though it was insufficient to completely dispel her 

 suspicions. Later she did taste it properly and, reassured, 

 eat it. 



508. Jan. 16. — A and C have escaped. I offered B the 

 great black and white Danaino butterfly, with gas-like smell, 

 Amauris dominicanus. It was only just caught, quite un- 

 damaged and very lively, and it fluttered and banged against 

 the wire at a great rate. The Hoopoe watched it with the 

 greatest interest, and every time its movements ceased edged 

 up to it carefully along the perches. Thereupon the butterfly 

 would again beo-in to flutter. On the fourth occasion the 

 bird succeeded in seizing it by the thorax, but she evidently 

 received an unpleasant sui-prise for she dropped it almost 

 immediately and edged away to the other side of the cage. 

 She soon, however, again cautiously approached the Amauris, 

 which was now lying disabled at the bottom of the cage, a 

 drop of clear liquid exuding from the thorax, and her action 

 was most interesting. For she bent over and examined the 

 butterfly most closely, turned it over by a wing and studied 

 the other side as closely, appearing to be taking in every 

 detail. Then she again retired to the further end of the 

 perch without an attempt to eat the butterfly. The latter 

 was allowed to remain in the cage together with an Acrcea 

 caldarena, subsequently offered, for nearly an hour, but, 

 although the bird ate moths, grasshoppers, and other insects 



