The Bionomics of South African Insects. 359 



moth Ccdlioratis hellcdrir was seized and 

 rejected by a drongo, undoubtedly a 

 young bird, judging by its plumage. 

 [The moth, which is now in the Hope 

 Department, has lost most of the head, 

 but is otherwise uninjured. — E. B. P.] 



13. Records of Attacks on Butterflies by wild 

 Birds in India and Ceylon, by Colonel J. W 

 Yerbury, R.A. 



[Colonel Yerbury has kindly extracted from 

 his notes all the observations he has made 

 bearing on this interesting question. — 

 E. B. P.] 

 "About the year 1884 a discussion arose in 

 the Bombay papers as to whether birds 

 preyed on butterflies, and the general 

 opinion expressed was that it was com- 

 paratively rare for them to do so. In 

 common with some other members of the 

 Bombay Natural History Society, I deter- 

 mined to watch and note the results. My 

 records taken from old diaries are as 

 follows : — 



1884. 



Neighbourhood of Poena and Aden. None. 



1885. 

 Sept. 28. Aden, Campbellpore, and Murree Hills. Road 

 up Thundiani, near the Kala Pani 

 Bungalow, Saw a young king-crow, 

 Dicrkrics ater, stoop at a big blue 

 Fapilio, either P. 2)ohjctor or P. arcturus, 

 and miss it. The bird ditl not repeat the 

 attempt. 



1886. 

 Sept. 2. Campbellpore, Thundiani, etc. Road up 

 Thundiani, near top of the hill. Saw a 

 young king-crow stoop at a specimen of 

 Vanessa hasehmirensis, and after missing 

 it once take it at the second attempt. 

 Did not notice whether the insect was 

 eaten. 



