198 THE COLOURS OF ANIMALS 



prominent as possible. An unwary lizard seized the 

 apparently convenient projection ; most of the ' tus- 

 sock ' came out in its mouth, and the caterpillar was 

 not troubled further. The lizard spent a long and 

 evidently most uncomfortable time in trying to get rid 

 of its mouthful of hairs. 



On another occasion a full-grown ' Hop-dog ' was 

 offered to a hungry adult Lacerta viridis, but the 

 lizard knew the danger, and kept trying to find some 

 part of the body which could be safely seized. The 

 caterpillar remained motionless in the defensive 

 attitude during the whole attack, which lasted several 

 minutes. In this attitude the ' tussocks ' were held 

 in the most tempting manner, while all other parts of 

 the body bristled with sharp stiff spines. This ex- 

 perienced lizard finally seized the back of the larva 

 a long way behind the ' tussocks,' evidently looking 

 upon the bristles as the lesser evil. Although killed 

 the caterpillar was not swallowed, and it had only been 

 seized after many attempts and the closest examina- 

 tion. It is quite clear that the hairy covering would 

 have saved it from any except a very hungry enemy. 



Evidence that Insect-eating Animals learn by experience 



When we compare the behaviour of these two 

 lizards we find strong evidence for the opinion that 

 insect-eating animals learn by experience. I have, 

 however, come across more direct and convincing 



