The Bionomics of SoiUh African Insects. 867 



look out for specimens of butterflies bearing injuries which 

 were probably caused by birds or other enemies. The 

 results, as in every other instance in which I have asked 

 for his help, far exceeded my most sanguine hopes. He 

 sent me the fine series of injured specimens represented 

 on Plates IX, X, and XL 



Looking at the species represented in this collection one 

 is at once struck with the repetition of the very forms 

 which have been seen to be attacked by birds (see pp. 357 

 to 359). Thus Atella iihalantlia, once seen to be mutilated 

 by a bird (p. 357), is represented by no less than five injured 

 specimens (Plate IX, figs. 9 and 12 ; Plate X, figs. 2, 4,' 

 and 5). And nearly every other species observed to be 

 attacked or found in the stomach of a bird is also repre- 

 sented, often by two or more examples, in the three 

 accompanying plates. 



The presence of specially-protected forms, Danainm 

 and Acr£einic, is as conspicuous as in the observations 

 made in other parts of the world ; but new and interesting 

 light is thrown upon the problem by the examination of 

 these specimens and comparison with those of other more 

 palatable groups. A large proportion of the former (Plate 

 IX, figs. 1, 5, 7, 10, 11) are far more extensively mutilated 

 than any but exceptional instances among the latter, and 

 remarking the peculiar toughness, flexibility, and power of 

 recovery in the wings of JDanainm and Acrseinm, we are 

 driven to the probable conclusion that the results are in 

 many cases those of experimental trials by young enemies 

 and heroic attempts on the part of extremely hungry 

 enemies, rather than unavailing efibrts at the capture of 

 palatable prey. The futile attempts of hungry animals, 

 accompanied by extensive mutilation of unpalatable in- 

 sects, are well known in confinement (Proc. Zool. Soc, 

 1887, p. 191), and Mr. Marshall has made observations of 

 the same kind upon insect enemies in the wild state 

 (see pp. 318, 358, 359). 



The conclusion that butterflies may be pursued when 

 specially easy to catch, suggested by the observations on 

 April 26, 1899 (p. 358), is somewhat confirmed by the 

 curious fact that all the five examples of Lininas chrysip- 

 ptcs are females (Plate IX, figs. 1, 5, 10, and 11 ; Plate X, 

 fig.l). 



Of the conspicuous wet phases ot the seasonally dimorphic 

 Precis only a single example is present (Plate IX, fig. 24), 



