PALATABILITJ OF SOME BRITISH INSECTS. 831 



Group Nemeobiins. 

 The Duke of Burgundy {Nemeobius lacina). 



June 15, 1909. One given to Brazilian Hangnest was taken 

 and swallowed without any hesitation. 



Cue given to Saturnine Mocking Bird was taken at once, but 

 not eaten eagerly. While she was pecking it about a Lesser Hill 

 Mynah new up and took it away, but was in turn deprived of it 

 by the Mocking Bird, which then swallowed it quickly. 



Two given to Silver Pheasant, which ate them with the same 

 eagerness as it had previously shown when tried with the 

 " Whites.' 



Group Hesperiid.e. 

 The Dingy Skipper (Thanaos tages). 



May 31, 1909. One taken and greedily eaten by Dent's 

 Monkey. 



One taken and eaten cautiously by Capuchin (Cebus sp. b). See 

 under M. artemis. 



The Large Skipper (Argiades sylvanus). 



July 21 to 31, 1909. One caught and eaten at once by 

 Fantailed Flycatcher, and one by Brazilian Hangnest. 



Moths. 



Larva of Goat-Moth (Cossus ligniperda). 



Sept. 20, 1909. One taken first of all by Dial Bird, which after 

 a short time was driven off by Sulphury Tyrant. Both, after 

 pecking it, left it practically uninjured on the ground. It was 

 then taken by the Harmonious Shrike-Thrush. He kept it for 

 some time, pecking it about and was eager to prevent other birds 

 getting it; but was finally beaten in a ' tug-of-war ' for it by a 

 Common Hangnest, which carried the grub to a bush, held it 

 against a branch with his foot, and pecked away for five minutes, 

 then voluntarily dropped it. It was then taken by a Dial Bird, 

 which persevered for a, long time, pausing frequently between the 

 pecks, opening and shutting anil wiping his beak. He was then 

 deprived of it by a Black-chinned Laughing Thrush, which kept 

 it for ten minutes, pecking and whisking it about without making 

 any visible impression on the skin. The head, however, was by 

 this time gone, and the bird pulled some soft tissues out of the 

 end and ate them. I then gave it to a Green Hangnest, but 

 after tasting it he let it drop and took no further notice of it. 

 I then gave it to a Leach's Laughing Kingfisher, which after a 

 little delay swallowed it whole. 



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