842 ME. R. I. POCOCK ON' THE 



whether the sickness was caused by t lie smell of the Carabus, 

 which to me is nauseating, or to its taste, or by the irritation of 

 the stomach caused by the Tima/rcha. I suspect the latter, 

 because the Meeikat refused to touch a second Tima/rcha thai 

 was offered to him. 



One smelt and rejected untasted by two more Meerkats ; 

 taken by a third in the same cage, rubbed in the sawdust, but 

 left apparently uninjured. 



One grabbed at once and eaten by White-tailed Mongoose, 

 which immediately afterwards heaved and went through the 

 action of vomiting without, however, ejecting the heetle. A 

 second specimen was smelt and rejected with every show of 

 disgusl by the same animal, which persistently refused for 

 the next two hours every beetle that was offered him, although 

 before eating the Tima/rcha he had devoured a Pterostichus 

 madidus. One rejected without being closely smelt by a Banded 

 Mongoose which had eaten a Coccinella 7- punctata. Seized by a 

 second Banded Mongoose, and eaten after a good deal of rubbing 

 in the sawdust. 



One offered to a Capuchin, one of the specimens which had 

 refused the Telephorid {Rhagonyche fufoa) (p. 840), was taken. 

 smelt, and rejected. 



One offered to another Capuchin was ultimately eaten piece- 

 meal, but with so much delay caused by handling, licking, and 

 inspection, that I am sure it was no great treat to him, especially 

 as he had every reason to eat it speedily because a bigger 

 Capuchin in the same cage, which had snatched the Carabus 

 from his grasp, was almost continually after him to get the 

 Tima/rcha. When monkeys like their food they gobble it up if 

 there is the least likelihood of another taking it. 



One offered to a Vervet Monkey was accepted, pulled to pieces 

 and eaten, the exoskeleton being dropped to the ground. 



Tins specimen of Timarcha had lieen previously offered to a 

 Baboon [Papio sphinx) : but be would not, even touch it. 



One put on the floor of aviary was pounced upon by Dial 

 Bird, which after continued pecking and hammering could 

 make nothing of it beyond breaking it in half at the waist. 

 Ultimately he left it. An Orange-headed Thrush then tried 

 the abdomen, bul was driven off by a Hoopoe, which after 

 pecking and hammering it, gave it up. The Thrush then tried 

 again, and also gave it up. A Black-chinned Laughing Thrush 

 then had a turn ; but with the same result. 



One given to Harmonious Shrike-Thrush which had eaten the 

 Coccinella. He persevered for a longtime, but could not manage 

 it and tlew away, leaving the heetle apparently unhurt. After 

 about five minutes the bird came back and tried again, this time 

 perking off the legs and antenna? of the beetle; but he would 

 not eat the body, and at last tlew away and returned no more. 



Sept. 18, 1910. One female taken by Kagu. well crushed, 

 then swallowed at a gulp. 

 [34] 



