and EdihiUiy of LarvcG. 339 



The black, white, and yellow larva of Abraxas grossida- 

 riata was not even noticed. 



The brilliantly coloured and somewhat hairy larva of 

 Porthesia auriflua, even when crawling, was not regarded. 



No notice was taken of the chocolate and yellow larva 

 of Hihernia defoliaria. 



A thrush belonging to my brother, which I constantly 

 fed with insects, rejected the gaily coloured slightly 

 hairy larva of GUsiocampa neustria. 



The birds very hungry, but Clisioeampa neustria, Biloha 

 cceruleocephala, and Abraxas grossulariata all crawling 

 about the aviary untouched. 



The bright crimson and brown imago of Euchelia 

 jacobcece was allowed to move about the aviary for some 

 time, but at last, after the removal of the wings, was 

 swallowed, evidently with reluctance ; this is a species 

 which flies in the day time, with a very weak flight, and 

 appears to make no attempt at concealment ; it would, 

 probably, be unmolested by wild birds. 



I may add, that my belief in the protective use to 

 insects of bright colours remains unshaken, but that I 

 agree with Mr. D'Orville, that '' some birds will eat 

 certain larvee which may be distasteful to others." 



It is quite possible, that one of the reasons why a 

 species of insect is often so rare in places where its 

 food plant is abundant, may be the presence of the bird 

 that feeds upon it, while its abundance in other districts 

 may be due to the absence of its special enemy, rather 

 than to the abundance of its food. 



