592 Mr. C. F. M. Swyuncrton on 



The Bulbul-like form of Hyphantornis jamesoni rather 

 specially tended to be refused — perhaps the result of the 

 likeness, which was usually better than the resemblance 

 borne by, e. g., the white form to the other white eggs of 

 the experiments. 



The eggs of all but three species in this list are always or 

 very frequently laid within ordinary climbing range of a rat. 



Experiments on an Indian Mongoose. 



Expt. 15. June 27, late afternoon. — Ate readily a minute 

 scrap of beef, then ate eggs of Grey Wagtail and Blackbird. 

 Smelt and refused Fowl's egg, even a small portion in a 

 spoon, but ate with much smelling and tasting a Hedge- 

 Sparrow's; then smelt and refused all eggs I could offer, 

 including not only the above species but a Great Tit's, a 

 Wren's ( Troglodytes parvulus), and others. But he ate with 

 some slight eagerness a common mouse, and, wdth distinctly 

 greater eagerness, a piece of beef. 



On the two previous days that he has been in my posses- 

 sion he has on several occasions eaten beef in strong prefer- 

 ence to mice, and with eagerness even when the latter had 

 been actually refused. 



Order: (1) beef; (2) common mouse; (3) Accentor 

 modularis'ii egg, probably preferred to (4) that of Gallus 

 domesticus. Great Tit's, Wren's, and Grey Wagtail's eggs 

 were also below (2). 



Expt. 16. June 28. — I left the mongoose for food last 

 night only a Fowl's egg. It is still uneaten. The 

 animal smelt and refused in turn fresh eggs of 

 Spotted Flycatcher, Wren, and Fowl, but ate readily, 

 after smelling and tasting it, a partly-incubated House- 

 Sparrow's egg; smelt and refused fresh eggs of Spotted 

 Flycatcher, Wren, Fowl, and Grey and Pied Wagtails, 

 but smelt and most readily ate a fresh House-Martin's 

 egg. Smelt and refused all as before, also one each of 

 WiUow-Warbler, Hedge-Sparrow, and, less decidedly, Song- 

 Thrush; but, on smelling it, ate with eagerness a fresh 

 House-Sparrow's egg, returning to the empty shell again 



