218 WILD LIFE ON A NORFOLK ESTUARY 



seated a pair of spotted flycatchers, with three young ones, 

 the latter being initiated by their parents, with the aid of 

 many practical demonstrations, into the science and art of 

 catching insects on the wing. Suddenly there appeared on 

 the far side of the court a white butterfly, and my interest 

 was further aroused by the thought of what the fate of that 

 butterfly would be, should he inadvertently come across to 

 where the birds were sitting. I had but a short time to wait. 

 . . . The butterfly came in a zigzag path across the lawn, and 

 when within fifteen feet of the railings, one of the young fly- 

 catchers made a stoop at it. At first I thought he was going 

 to be successful, but after vainly following the butterfly for 

 several turns he gave up the chase in despair, and returned 

 to his resting place. Without a moment's further delay one 

 of the old birds flew at it and secured it in its first flight. 

 Not for long, however, did she retain this much coveted bonne 

 bouche, for in her return flight to the wire the butterfly escaped 

 from between her mandibles and flew away, apparently un- 

 injured. So great seemed the indignation and chagrin of the 

 parent bird at the loss of prestige she had thus sustained 

 in the eyes of her pupils, owing entirely to her own clumsiness, 

 that she made no further effort to recapture the insect. 



"S. H. L." 



" SIR, Often have I seen butterflies flying amongst 

 swallows, and never have I seen one attacked till this year. 

 One day this summer as I was driving, I saw a small coloured 

 butterfly, probably a tortoise-shell, flying in front of my 

 horse, and I was surprised to see a swallow stoop at it and 

 devour it. It looked far too large a mouthful, but I saw no 

 wings fall to the ground. I have spoken of the fact as a 

 new experience, so if it be any help to ' John Knowlittle/ and 

 if you think fit to print it, well and good. ^ -Q Q 



" SIR, . . . I do not think ' John Knowlittle ' could have 

 been serious in questioning the facts of swallows taking 

 butterflies and moths. When a boy, I have frequently spent 

 many minutes catching large moths of a kind we called 

 kittiwakes from the swathes of meadow hay, and throwing 

 them up for the swallows. T p 



A writer in The Countryside, in November, 1905, made 

 mention of the fact that when working on a building at 

 Kessingland (Lowestoft) he had excellent opportunities of 

 watching swallows feeding their young with "daddy long- 



