PALATABILITY OF SOME BRITISH INSECTS. fi37 



Offerer! same specimen to Harmonious Shrike-Thrush, which 

 seized it eagerly but was robbed by the Dial Bird. I am sure by 

 the way they tackled the beetle that either of these birds would 

 have eaten it ; but the Spotted Bower Bird robbed the Dial Bird, 

 as in the case of 0. oleus, and finally finished it. 



July 31, 1909. One dropped on to floor of cage of the 

 Meerkat which had just eaten a Timarcha tenebricosa. He 

 pounced on it, but would not seize it as he did the Timarcha. 1 

 think he bit it, but am not sure. However, by the way he 

 pawed it about I am convinced he did not care for it. While 

 he was holding and smelling it, he quite suddenly let it go and 

 vomited up the Timarcha (see p. 841). The Carabus escaped 

 unhurt. I then gave it to a Capuchin which seized it, and was 

 proceeding apparently to eat it when another snatched it from 

 him and ate it without showing any marked signs of dislike, but 

 with no great avidity. 



This species, like others of the genus Carabus, discharges from 

 its mouth when handled a most repulsive smelling fluid. 



Mr. Beddard found that Lacerta ocellatu ate this beetle. 



Pterostichus (Abrax) striola. 



July 26, 1909. One taken by Sulphury Tyrant which shook it 

 and pecked it for some time until robbed of it by Spectacled 

 Thrush. This bird also pecked it and banged it about until 

 robbed by female Black Tanager, which ultimately ate it after 

 much pecking and tasting. 



The delay in eating this beetle on the part of the birds that 

 tried it may have been due to its hard exoskeleton or to partial 

 unpalatableness from other causes. The hardness alone would, 1 

 think, account for it. 



One (dead) given to Silver Pheasant was swallowed entire with 

 very little delay. The bird, however, after taking the insect 

 from my fingers, put it on the ground as is his custom with 

 anything hard or with soft butterflies not quite to his liking. 



July 31, 1909. One seized and bolted at once by Silver 

 Pheasant in exactly the same way that he had bolted the other 

 Carabida?. 



Pterostichus niger. 



July 31, 1909. One smelt but rejected by three Meerkats; 

 snatched from the forceps by a Common Indian Mongoose, 

 which followed it and watched it, and smelt it as a cat does a 

 cockroach, but did not eat it, so I took it from the cage un- 

 injured. White-tailed Mongoose turned from it in disgust. 



One seized and bolted at once by Silver Pheasant. 



According to Mr. Beddard this beetle was eaten without 

 hesitation by Lacerta vivipara and another lizard : and with some 

 hesitation by Finches. 



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