204 SPOLIA ZEYLANIGA. 
> 
Newstead, both in a “typical pale form” and in a “‘ dark form,” 
and the same is the case with P. minutus in Northern Bengal and 
with P. major in the outer Himalayas (see Rec. Ind. Mus., IV., 
p. 340, 1911). 
N. ANNANDALE. 

18. Contest between a Mynah (‘‘ Acridotheres tristis”’) and a Locust 
(‘‘ Acridium violascens”).—I was a witness a short time ago of a very 
good instance of the method of defence in a locust when attacked 
by a bird. The mynah in question was quite tame, and had the 
run of the house and garden ; the locust flew on to the verandah, 
and in its usual blundering flight hit against the wall and came to 
the ground. It was immediately pounced on by the mynah, but 
at the moment of seizure the insect rolled slowly on to its side, 
drawing up the long hind leg and exposing to view the gray and 
black ocellated spots surrounding the spiracles. They certainly 
gave the insect a bizarre appearance, which was not without effect, 
as the bird immédiately drew back obviously disconcerted. After 
@ moment of hesitation it cautiously approached its beak within 
two inches of the locust, when again the leg was slowly drawn back, 
evidently also with the intention as a last resource of striking the 
bird a smart blow with the sharply serrated ridge of the tarsus. 
This had the effect of again postponing an attack, and two or three 
times the same manceuvre was repeated on the approach of the 
bird’s bill. It was very remarkable how the insect seemed to know 
that the startling effect was more pronounced the more slowly 
it moved over on to its side, and its apparent intelligence to be 
aware that it had, so to speak, only one shot in its locker which was 
to be used as a final resource. It was clear that once it had struck 
out, and possibly missed its object, the bird would have been imme- 
diately inside its guard, with disastrous consequences. Whether the 
above comes under the heading pseudaposematic defence (false 
warning colouration), 7.e., the assumption by a defenceless insect 
of a terrifying attitude, or aposematic, or warning character of an 
insect able to protect itself, is not quite certain, but probably the 
latter ; which ever it was, it was quite clear to my mind that the 
insect derived distinct advantage from its terrifying attitude, and 
displayed an almost. human intelligence in its use. 
[ may add that the bird eventually gave up the contest, and the 
locust made good its escape. 
N. MANDERS. 
Note.—Since writing the above, it has occurred to me that an 
objection may be made to this interpretation ; the argument being 
that the bird’s natural food was locusts and grasshoppers, which it 
