the Relative Edibility of Insects. 85 
agathina (Obs. 718), and pawed it, but would not 
taste it. It is a pale yellow species, barred with 
black, procryptic beneath. 
Obs. 818, Sp. 172.—Pierine, Belenois mesentina : this 
butterfly was pawed about, and rubbed on the ground ; 
M, eventually pulled off the wings and put the body 
into his mouth, but, to my surprise, took it out again. 
(Note.—M, differs much from M, in his opinion of 
this butterfly. See Obs. 510.) 
Obs. 819. Sp. 141.—Acraeine, Acraea neobule Dbl. : 
a semi-transparent red species. M, seized this butter- 
fly and put it up to his mouth, took it out and 
looked at it, bit off the head, then put the insect 
down and left it alone. 
(Note.—It did not appear as if the monkey recog- 
nised this Acraea at first sight as distasteful.) 
Obs. 820. Sp. 171.—Nymphaline, Precis antilope 
(= simia): M, carefully pulled off the wings of this 
butterfly and ate the body with relish. 
Obs. 821. Sp. 370.—Locustid : a short, fat-bodied, 
grass-green grasshopper not in the Br. Mus.; an 
adult winged specimen. Found among grass, where 
I should never have seen it unless it had betrayed 
itself by a movement. When I put it before M, he 
seemed at first very eager for it, but when it crawled 
within reach he took it and pulled off each hind leg 
in turn, tasting them. He then pulled out the viscera 
and put them in his mouth, but afterwards ejected 
them, and left the rest uneaten. 
(Note.—This insect being so procryptic might have 
been expected to be edible, but this group of fat- 
bodied Locustids as a whole seems to be distasteful, 
in spite of the procrypsis.) 
Obs. 822. Sp. 308.—Curculionid: two staple 
weevils (Lixus) eaten eagerly. 
Obs. 823. Sp. 371—Nymphaline, Atella phalantha: 
~ a very abundant butterfly, of a “ Fritillary ” appear- . 
ance. M, appeared very eager for this, apparently 
not knowing it. He pulled off the wings, put the 
body straight into his mouth, and spat it out. 
Obs. 824. Sp. 172.—Pierine, Belenois mesentina: 
M, pulled off the wings of this butterfly, put the body 
into his mouth, pulled it out, put it in again, and at 
last swallowed it after much mouthing. 
