376 Mr. G. A. K. Mav.^liall on 



16. Experiments ox a Captive Mungoose {Hcrpestes 

 gaJa'Ci) AVITH InsECT-FOOD. (G. a. K. M.) 



1899. 

 May 27. Offcreil a llliopalvnimpta foreskin to a very 

 young female Mungoose (Hcoyestcs galera) ; 

 she rushed at it, but on touching it with 

 her nose drew back sharply (her eyesight 

 was still but feeble); so I partially cut off" 

 its wings and let it flutter on the floor, 

 whereupon she ran at it several times but 

 did not attempt to eat it. I then gave her 

 four T. senegale7isis (without wings) which 

 she ate greedily, and on being otfered a 

 Mylothris ag(dJiina she promptly seized it, 

 but immediately jumped back so violently 

 that she rolled head over heels. The 

 way she shook her head clearly demon- 

 strated the distastefulness of the butterfly, 

 and she would not let me bring it any- 

 where near her. I then otfered a Behnois 

 mcscntina, hwt with the same result ; she 

 refused to toucli it every time. Thinking 

 this might be due to her experience with 

 the Mylothris, I put the Belenois aside 

 and offered it ten minutes later, when it 

 was eaten with undoubted relish. An 

 Acrxct caldarcna and A. axina were then 

 refused, but Avithout being tasted, the 

 smell being apparently quite sufficient. 

 More than an hour afterwards I again 

 tried her with B.forestan, but she would 

 not touch it, though whether this was 

 due to fear of its size and violent fluttering, 

 or to some unpleasant smell, I could not 

 well decide; any way she did not attempt 

 to bite it. 

 June 3. Gave mungoose two Terias hrigitta, two 

 Tcracolus omjjhale, and two Belenois seve- 

 rina. All these had their wings cut otf 

 and were thrown on the ground, Avhen 

 they were promptly seized and eaten. A 

 Mylothris agatJiina was then oftered in 

 the same manner, and even this was eaten. 



