On Insects supposed to be distasteful to Birds. 1¢1 
XIX.—A few Remarks respecting Insects supposed to be dis- 
tasteful to Birds. By Arruur G. Butter, -F.L.S., 
F.Z.8., &e. 
THE question as to the distasteful nature of certain insects 
and their larve has of late years occupied the attention of 
several eminent naturalists, and certainly is one worthy of 
consideration. 
Many years ago I published an account of experiments 
which I had recorded touching the refusal of certain cater- 
pillars &e. by lizards, frogs, and spiders: the attention which 
that paper of mine has since received has been interesting, as 
showing how very little has since been done by naturalists 
either to prove or disprove the truth of the theories based 
thereon. 
The other day I was reminded by a simple occurrence of 
the fact that two years ago Mr. Poulton asked me to take 
careful notes of all insects and their larve or pups: which were 
accepted or rejected by my birds (if | remember rightly I had 
at the time about 108 birds), and to send the notes to him, 
to assist him in more thoroughly investigating the subject. 
This I did most conscientiously, not even retaining a copy of 
my notes, but so far nothing seems to have come of it; I 
presume therefore that my facts have rather tended to mystify 
than clear the matter up, for the following reason :— 
My experience ever since I have kept birds—nearly six 
years—has been that no insect in any stage was ever refused 
by all the birds, what one bird refused another would eat * ; 
but the other day I thought I had discovered a moth which no 
bird would touch—Zenzera esculi 9. I threw it into my 
aviary of insectivorous birds, and they positively showed fear 
of it; the Grey Wagtail inspected it askance from a yard’s 
distance, but flew off in a fright when the moth moved; at 
the end of half an hour I took it away and gave it to my 
Missel-Thrush, who behaved exactly as I had seen him do to 
the stag-beetle (Lucanus cervus), standing almost on tiptoe, 
giving it a sudden peck, and immediately jumping back ; 
finding, however, that no harm resulted from his boldness, he 
presently plucked up courage, pulled it to pieces, and de- 
voured it, apparently with the greatest satisfaction. What is 
there in a wood-leopard moth to produce fear in a bird ? 
Certainly not the smell, for both Missel-Thrush and Blackbird 
* Possibly Zygena and Procris may be exceptions; I have had none 
lately, 
