The Bionomics of South African Insects. 379 



down the rain to enable it to wash the body away. This 

 bird is black all over with only the primaries white, and 

 is so weak on the wing that after three or four Hights a 

 good runner can run it down. 



18. Experiments on Gereopithecus pygcri/thrus. 

 (G. A. K. M.) 



The following experiments were all made at one time, 

 in February 1902, at Salisbury. The insects were offered 

 in the following order: — 



Psiloptera cJudcophoroidcs : regarded with some suspicion ; 

 its head bitten off, and the remainder examined and eaten 

 cautiously. 



Amhlysterna vittijicnnis : was offered and eaten at once. 



Praogcna splendens: was smelt and at once thrown awa3^ 



Dicktha inflatct: was cautiously smelt and refused. 



Amhlysterna mttipeniiis : was regarded with great 

 suspicion, carefully examined and then eaten slowly. 



Precis sesamns (^natalensis form) : was received with 

 suspicion and very slowly eaten. 



Precis pelasgis, P. scsaimis (natcdensis) , ByUia acheJoia, and 

 two Precis aiitilope were then eaten readily, but evidently 

 not so much appreciated as the beetles. 



Acrxa hcdaJi was then accepted without suspicion, but 

 when the monkey put it in his mouth, he at once took it 

 out again and looked at it with the utmost surprise for 

 some seconds, and then threw it away. He would have 

 nothintr to do with an A. ecddarena which I then offered 

 him. 



[Mr. Marshall was greatly struck with the caution and 

 hesitancy displayed by the monkey, and the evident effect 

 of distasteful forms in causing suspicion of palatable 

 species offered immediately afterwards. I have noticed 

 the same thing with the marmoset (" Colours of Animals," 

 London, 1900^ pp. 241, 242). 



The refusal of the two Heteromerous Coleoptera, the 

 acceptance of the cryptic species, and the treatment of 

 the Lepidoptera, are in general correspondence with the 

 results obtained in other experiments. — E. B. P.] 



