84 NATURAL SELECTION in 



only obtained one answer from a gentleman in Cumberland, 

 who gave me some interesting observations on the general 

 dislike and abhorrence of all birds to the "Gooseberry 

 Caterpillar," probably that of the Magpie moth (Abraxas 

 grossulariata). Neither young pheasants, partridges, nor wild 

 ducks could be induced to eat it, sparrows and finches never 

 touched it, and all birds to whom he offered it rejected it 

 with evident dread and abhorrence. It will be seen that these 

 observations are confirmed by those of two members of the 

 Entomological Society, to whom we are indebted for more 

 detailed information. 



In March 1869 Mr. J. Jenner Weir communicated a 

 valuable series of observations made during many years, but 

 more especially in the two preceding summers, in his aviary, 

 containing the following birds of more or less insectivorous 

 habits : Kobin, Yellow - hammer, Eeed - bunting, Bullfinch, 

 Chaffinch, Crossbill, Thrush, Tree-pipit, Siskin, and Redpoll. 

 He found that hairy caterpillars were uniformly rejected ; 

 five distinct species were quite unnoticed by all his birds, and 

 were allowed to crawl about the aviary for days with impunity. 

 The spiny caterpillars of the Tortoiseshell and Peacock but- 

 terflies were equally rejected ; but in both these cases Mr. 

 Weir thinks it is the taste, not the hairs or spines, that 

 is disagreeable, because some very young caterpillars of a 

 hairy species were rejected although no hairs were developed, 

 and the smooth pupae of the above:- named butterflies were 

 refused as persistently as the spined larvse. In these cases, 

 then, both hairs and spines would seem to be mere signs of 

 uneatableness. 



His next experiments were with those smooth gaily- 

 coloured caterpillars which never conceal themselves, but on 

 the contrary appear to court observation. Such are those of 

 the Magpie moth (Abraxas grossulariata), whose caterpillar is 

 conspicuously white and black spotted the Diloba cseruleo- 

 cephala, whose larva is pale yellow with a broad blue or 

 green lateral band the Cucullia verbasci, whose larva is 

 greenish white with yellow bands and black spots, and 

 Anthrocera filipendulae (the six spot Burnet moth), whose 

 caterpillar is yellow with black spots. These were given to 

 the birds at various times, sometimes mixed with other kinds 



