THE COLORATION PROBLEMS. 7 



chewed oatmeal, it was impossible to say quite what it was, but I do 

 not believe it was insect food at all.] 



4. Passer domesticns, L. The Sparrow. 



Observer. — E. H. Curtis. Time. — ? 



Date.— June 15th, 1913. Sex.—? 



Place. — Poole. Duration. — Casual. 



Pood. — Cabera exanthemata. The insect was let out of a breeding- 

 cage, promptly pursued through three rows of sweet peas and a row 

 of chrysanthemums, captured and carried off; a most pertinacious 

 pursuit. 



Observer. — E. H. Curtis. Time. — ? 



Date.— June 18th, 1913. Sex.—? 



Place. — Poole. Duration. — Casual. 



Food. — A similar occurrence, but the bird was infinitely quicker. 



Observer. — W. P. Curtis. Time.— 5.35 p.m. 



Date.— July 12th, 1913. Sex.—? 



Place. — Bournemouth. Duration. — Casual. 



Food. — Hunted a Geometer out of a hedge, caught it and ate it. 

 The insect was at rest, and, as near as I could tell at the distance, 

 Rumia luteolata. 



Observer. — W. P. Curtis. Time. — 6.15 p.m. 



Date.— July 23rd, 1913. Sex.—? 



Place. — Bournemouth (Central Duration. — 10 minutes. 



Station). 

 Food. — Caught five or six flies {Miisca sp. ?) which were walking 

 on the glass of the station roof. 



Observer. — W. P. Curtis. Time. — 8.30 a.m. 



Date.— July 24th, 1913. Sex.—? 



Place. — Poole Station. Duration, — 10 minutes. 

 Food. — A similar observation. 



Observer. — W. P. Curtis. Time.— 5 to 6 p.m. 



Date. — July 31st, 1913. Sex. — Many of both sexes. 



Place. — Bournemouth and Poole. 



Food. — Catching the winged individuals of ants, which were 

 swarming {Lasius nifjer ?). 



Observer. — W. P. Curtis. Time. — 9.5 a.m. 



Date.— August 1st, 1913. Sex.—? 



Place. — Poole (Station). Duration. — 5 minutes. 



Food. — A similar observation to July 24th. 



Observer. — W. P. Curtis Time. — 5.30 p.m. 



Date.— August 1st, 1913. Sex.—? 



Place. — Bournemouth. Duration. — Five minutes. 



Food. — A similar observation to July 31st. On this occasion a 

 young bird, after catching several ants, got hold of a honey bee {Apis 

 mellitica) worker by mistake. It dropped the bee like a hot brick. The 

 bee went off with an angry swinging flight, apparently none the worse, 

 but the sparrow, after shaking its head very vigorously for a bit rubbed 

 its bill very hard against the edge of the kerb. It had evidently been 

 stung. 



