Frodiidion of Mimetic Besemhlanccs among Butterflies. 363 



pursued forthwith. With incredible agility this huge 

 insect managed to evade all the attacks of the closely 

 pursuing bird, escaping out of one bush into another. 

 It was an even race, which I watched with the deepest 

 interest, until at last the hunted creature saved itself 

 in a thicket of tangled branches and the wearied bird 

 desisted from further pursuit " : Paul Hahnel, " Iris," 

 1890, p. 193 (Venezuela). 



Records from the Australian Region. 



Sisiira inquicta, Lath. (Restless Flycatcher). " The food 

 of this species consists chiedy of insects of various 

 kinds, principally flies, small moths and butterflies, 

 captured more frequently while on the wing " : A. J. 

 North, " Nests and Eggs of Birds of Australia," p. 136. 



Microcca fascinans, Lath. (Browu Flycatcher). " Its food 

 consists principally of flies, small moths and butter- 

 flies, captured while on the wing": A. J. North, 

 op. cit., p. 150. 



Petroeca Icggci, Shafer (Scarlet-breasted Robin). " Its food 

 consists of insects, principally small moths, butterflies, 

 beetles, etc. " : A. J. North, op. cit., p. 164. 



The paucity of records from the Neotropical Region is 

 very striking and much to be deplored, for such information 

 as we have seems to indicate that the destruction of butter- 

 flies by birds must occur there on a considerable scale. It 

 is curious that not one of those excellent observers, Wallace, 

 Bates, Fritz Midler or Belt, has given us a single record of 

 attack in which either bird or butterfly was identified. 

 Possibly they may have considered, like some other 

 naturalists whom I have consulted, that the phenomenon 

 was of such frequent occurrence as not to require special 

 noting. It is to be hoped that the publication of this 

 paper may do a little towards dispelling that idea. We 

 want heaps more evidence before we can ai-rive at any 

 sound conclusions as to the exact relations which exist 

 between butterflies and their bird enemies. The publica- 

 tion of isolated cases is of little value ; the evidence to 

 carry weight must be in bulk. I propose to continue col- 

 lecting it, and shall be very grateful to any correspondents 

 who may be kind enough to assist me with any further 

 records. Communications may be addressed to 6 Chester 

 Place, Hyde Park Square, London, W. 



