PALATABILITY OF SOME BRITISH INSECTS. 847 



The interest of the demonstration of the distastefulness of 

 Coccinella 7-punctata lies in the fact that Cocci nellidre of various 

 kinds are mimicked in the tropics by insects of other orders, as 

 well as by spielers. 



Order HEMIPTERA. 

 Olive-brown Bug {Tropicoris rufipes). 



July 21, 1909. One (dead) given to Mona Monkey was eaten 

 after a great deal of handling, smelling and tasting. 



One put on the ground was tackled by Fantailed Flycatcher, 

 which pecked it some half dozen times. He was then driven oft' 

 by a hen Black Tanager, which pecked it and pecked it again, and 

 then left it. A Syrian Bulbul then flew up and tried it, but after 

 persevering for some little time gave it up. Then the Tanager 

 had another attempt, but left it. I then gave the mangled 

 remains to the Harmonious Shrike-Thrush, and after a little 

 pecking about he SAvallowed them. 



One (living) eaten with very little delay by Silver Pheasant ; 

 but put on the ground after being taken from my hand. This 

 specimen was immature on arrival ; it moulted in the box, and 

 was apparently adult when given to the bird. 



One (dead) treated in the same way and eaten by the same 

 bird. 



Red and Black Bug (Therapha hyocyami). 



Sept. 20, 1910. One given to Pekin Robin was at once taken 

 and ultimately eaten ; but the bird took a long time over it, 

 putting it on the ground after each peck and vigorously shaking 

 his head before tasting it again. The behaviour of this bird was 

 exactly the same towards Coccinella 1 -pu aetata (p. 846). 



Order DIPTERA. 



Bombusdike Fly ( Volucella bombylans). 



July 26, 1909. One taken by Fantailed Flycatcher but after 

 being pecked and pulled about for some time, was left. The 

 Sulphury Tyrant then tried it, but also left it alone after much 

 pecking. Finally it was taken by Spectacled Thrush, which ate 

 it after much pecking and wiping in the sand. 



One given to Black-headed Sibia was eaten after a great deal 

 of pecking and breaking up. 



These experiments, as Dr. Longstaff reminded me, suggest that 

 this fly is, at all events to a certain extent, unpalatable. If 

 future tests should prove it to be so, its likeness to Bombus will 

 be an instance of Miillerian rather than of Batesian Mimicry. 



See also below, pp. 854-855. 



58* 

 T39I 



