the Relative Edability of Insects. 35 
Obs. 287. Sp. 127.—Lymantrid : while M. was on 
a bush something fell off a branch on to the ground 
among long grass. M. jumped down to see what it 
was, and picked it up, handled it, and dropped it. 
It was a dark caterpillar with short grey hairs. 
After this a number of insects were eaten. 
Series An. Obs. 290-303. Jan. 16.—At noon I tried M. 
with the following. He should have been hungry, but 
was not. 
Obs. 290. Sp. 129.—Sternocera boucardi Saund. : 
an enormous beetle, greyish or greenish ground-colour, 
spotted conspicuously with yellow pubescence, found 
in numbers on slender twigs of small tree—very con- 
spicuous both at rest and on wing. M. looked at it 
for a long while, walked round it, then tried biting it, 
but could make no impression on its hard and slippery 
surface. In some way it nipped him (probably his 
tongue got nipped between posterior edge of thorax 
and anterior edge of elytra, as with Sp. 43, Obs. 
70) and he put it down hurriedly and began to paw it 
on the ground. After a while he took heart and began 
again, and at last bit off its head, but spat it out 
uneaten. Eventually he got the viscera exposed, and 
ate the beetle in much doubt, rejecting some pieces— 
it was obviously very hard work breaking it up. 
Obs. 292. Sp. 131.—Chrysomelid: a cluster of 
larvae found on end of a twig, inhabiting a common 
web. ‘The larva was about } in. long, hairy, fat, and 
dull pink in colour, with median and lateral darker 
pink longitudinal stripes. I put the branch on the 
ground; M. walked round and round looking at the 
larvae, then tasted one, but did not eat it, and would 
have no more to do with the others—actually backing 
away when I held out the branch towards him. 
(Note.—In this case the distasteful larvae gain very 
greatly by massing themselves together—for an 
individual is not extremely conspicuous.) 
Series Ao. Obs. 304-314. Jan. 16—At 5 p.m. I took M. 
out hunting: he was keen. 
Obs. 304. Sp. 21.—Histerid, Hister validus : I found 
and offered this shining black beetle to M., who would 
have nothing to do with it. 
Obs. 305. Sp. —.—He then found and ate a large 
grasshopper (Cyrtacanthacris). 
