764 REPORT— 1887. 



year I have also experimeuted with a chameleon and a salamander. The com- 

 parison of the results obtained from these different groups of insect-eaters is 

 extremely interesting. In nearly all cases there is complete concurrence in their 

 treatment of highly coloured nauseous insects. But there are great differences in 

 the relative ease with which the diOerent groups can be induced by hunger to eat 

 distasteful insect food. 



The frogs and the birds appear to be the least scrupulous in this respect. It 

 seems probable that the superficial sliia of the frog is more delicate than the lining 

 of the oral cavity. Thus the hymeuopterous larvtE of Crasus ssptenlnonalis and. 

 C. vmni.s were eaten in considerable numbers, but the lace was carefully wiped 

 with the paw after being touched by the everted ventral glands of the larvse. I 

 am inclined to think that lizards are les.s unscrupulous in this respect than the most 

 completely insect-eating birds. Mammalia (i.e., the marmoset) appear to be far 

 more difficult to please than any of the other groups. The above arrangement 

 accords well with what is known on other grounds of the development of the sense 

 of ta.ste in the vertebrate classes. I will now bring forward a few of the instances 

 which support the above-mentioned conclu.4ons. The marmoset would never touch 

 a hairy or sjunous larva of any kind : this was because of the presence of the 

 structures themselves, for the same species was alwas eaten in the pupal stage. All 

 the other vertebrates will sometimes eat hairy larvse. Birds have a special 

 advantage in their power of getting rid of unpleasant appendages, such as hairs or 

 wings. Large lizards will eat unpalatable insects which are often refused by 

 smaller ones, probably because the former can swallow their prey without so much 

 biting, and thus without tasting it so much. Ladybirds were eaten by the nightin- 

 gale, and by frogs when very hungry; hitherto they have been invariably refused 

 by the other vertebrates. The green larva of Pieris rapcc was eaten but disUked 

 lay the marmoset, relished by the lizards. The hairy larva of Acronycta aceris 

 was eaten by birds, refused by lizards and marmoset. The hairy larva of Orgyin 

 antiqua was eaten by birds, but refused by lizards, except on one occasion when 

 two lizards fought over the larva, and in the struggle tore out the hairs incidentally. 

 An experiment with this latter larva gave a very probable interpretation of the 

 meaning of the hairy tufts on many Bombyx larvae. A lizard seized the larva by 

 one of these tufts, which immediately came out, leaving the lizard with a mouthful 

 of hairs. After this it did not again touch the larva. These tufts are placed on 

 the back in the part where larvae are nearly always seized ; being formed of very 

 closely approximated tine hairs of the same height the whole tuft suggests a solid 

 part of the animal rather than a mass of loosely fixed hairs. The following 

 conspicuous nauseous forms have been eaten when the vertebrates have been 

 hungry : — 



Euchelia jacobace — larva, by lizard. Dihha cceruleocephala — iarva, by lizard. 



Pygcera bucephala — „ „ Liparis salicis — ,, „ 



Porthesia auriflua — „ „ ,, „ imago, by lizard 



Zygana JilipendulcB — imago, ,, and marmoset. 



„ trifolii — „ by frog. Abraxas grossulariata — imago, bj'lizard. 



L. salicis (imago) is evidently very distasteful, but the very similar, although 

 smaller, P. aurifiua (imago) is palatable ; and the latter probably benefits by the 

 reputation of the former. Thus the marmoset when very hungi-y ate the former, 

 although it was much disliked ; immediately afterwards the mammal refused the 

 latter, although on another occasion he ate as many as four of these moths with 

 evident relish. Highly gilded pupae of Vanessa urticcB were eaten with relish by 

 Ijirds and the marmoset, and it is clear that the appearance does not in this case 

 indicate an unpleasant taste, as has been suggested. The spider-like larva of 

 Staurojms fagi, in its terrifying attitude, somewhat impressed a lizard and the 

 marmoset, but not to such an extent as to prevent the larva from being eaten. 

 This was to be expected, for both animals will eagerly devour spiders. Such effect 

 as was produced was due to the suggestion of no ordinary EngUsh spider, but one 

 of much greater size and with the terrific aspect highly idealised. The terrifying 

 larva of Ceinira vinula certainly frightened the marmoset, and either its appearance 



