EXPERIMENTS ON PROTECTIVE COLORATION 485 



Experiment 32. Same as Experiment 31, except that the grackle 

 was further distant from the backgrounds at the beginning of the experi- 

 ment. The result was the same as in Experiment 31. 



Experiment S3. Figures 27 and 60. One moth (Noctuid sp.) was 

 placed on gray bark and one on charred wood, the former presenting, to 

 my eye, a fairly close resemblance to its background, and the latter a 

 good contrast. After flying across the cage a few times the grackle 

 dropped to the ground and a minute later went directly to the back- 

 grounds, passing the charred wood and taking the insect from the bark, 

 followed by that on the charred wood. 



Summary 



In 15 out of 33 experiments, or 45 per cent, the combination of 

 less contrast was chosen and in 18 out of 33, or 55 per cent, that 

 of greater contrast. In 15, or 45 per cent, the prey was taken 

 from that background nearest which the bird happened to alight. 

 A further analysis of these apparently inconclusive results will 

 be reserved for later discussion. 



SERIES VIII 



Experiment 1. Figures 25 and 37. Five Melanoplus were placed 

 on sand and five on a mixed background of hay and earth, the former 

 combination presenting the greatest contrast. Almost immediately the 

 kingbird flew direct to the sand from which it took one insect. 



Experiment 2. Same as Experiment 1. In three minutes the same 

 result was obtained. 



Experiment 3. Same as Experiment 1. In one minute the king- 

 bird flew over the sand alighting on a box al)out 2.5 cm. from the back- 

 grounds. Here it remained a few moments when the same result was 

 obtained. 



Experiment 4- Same as Experiment 1. The kingbird immediately 

 flew to the sand from which it took one insect, and then alit at a point 

 nearer the hay than the sand. It quickly returned and first seized 

 one insect on the hay and then the remaining four on the sand, leaving 

 four on the hay. 



The results in the three preceding experiments may have been modi- 

 fied by the memory of the bird's experience in Experiment 1, in which 

 it found insects on the sand. In Experiment 4 however even after 

 it fed from the hay, it left four insects on the latter and took four from 

 the sand, tending to show that this was not the case. 



Experiment 5. Figures 35 and 58. One Ceresa bubalus was placed 

 on grass and one on sand, the latter combination showing the greater 

 contrast. Before I had time to leave the cage the kingbird flew to 

 the sand, from which it took the insect. 



