594 Mr. C. F. M. Swynnerton on 



two eggs left iutactj but both overturned — the Wren's and 

 Willow-Warbler's. 



I think I can say that during the main experiment the 

 mongoose once or twice showed slightly more inclination to 

 try the Flycatcher's and Wagtail's eggs than the Wren's or 

 Warbler's; one or two actual tastings (followed, it is true, 

 by rejection) were obtained. 



Order: (1) beef (to judge by manner) ; (2) Chelidon 

 urbica and Passer domesiicus (both new-laid) ; (3) Turdus 

 musicus ; (4) Accentor modularis ; (5) Muscicapa grisola, 

 Motacilla sulphurea^ M. alba yarrelli, Troglodytes parvulus, 

 and Phylloscopus trochilus, the last two possibly least liked ; 

 also Gallus domesiicus. 



" I was a little surprised/' I wrote, " at the relatively 

 high placing of Thrush and Hedge-Sparrow and the very 

 low placing of Wren and Willow-Warbler. Of course, one 

 does not yet know how many or how few grades may come 

 below the latter, while there are quite probably gaps to be 

 filled between grades 2 and 3. At any rate, I could in no 

 way complain of the experiment, it bemg, as regards decided 

 and unequivocal action on the animal's part, as good as any 

 I have ever carried out. The contrast between grades 2 and 5 

 was very strongly marked, and lasted to the end of a longish 

 experiment — for the short account I have given does not 

 convey a full idea of the re-oflfering and coaxing that took 

 place to give the mongoose every chance of reconsidering 

 his refusals. Two different Wren's eggs were used, three 

 Spotted Flycatcher's (from two clutches), only one Willow- 

 Wren's, but two of each kind of Wagtail, and three 

 Martin's. In every case the mongoose's treatment of 

 eggs of the same species was identical — excepting that he 

 grew hungry enough for the Thrush's and Hedge-Sparrow's, 

 at first refused." 



Expt. 17. June 29. — Last night I left in the cage, as well 

 as meat (duck), a fowl's egg and a duck's egg. The meat 

 and a considerable part of the fowl's egg were eatfen by this 

 afternoon, the duck's egg untouched. I had made a large 

 hole in each egg and placed them side by side. 



