VALIDITY OF SOME FORMS OF MIMICRY. 735 



Experiments on Wild Birds. 



The following experiments were made on one bird in column 1, 

 two birds in column 2, and two in column 3 (see p. 724), a very- 

 small percentage of the total number no doubt, but the best I 

 could do under the circumstances, and they indicate the lines 

 for future investigations. 



Experiments on Flycatchers at Nuioara Eliya, 1909. 



The Indian Red-breasted Robin Flycatcher, Siphia hyperythra. 



This bird is migratory a.nd is found only in the hill districts ; 

 it is about the size of the European Spotted Flycatcher. 



30.3.09. Deprived live Terias hecabe one, Terias lihythea one, 

 Hypoli'mnas holina c? one, Danais fmnata one, Neptis leucotho'e 

 one, and Appias galene one, of about two-thirds or three-quarters 

 of their wings, and put them on the ground near a tree from 

 which one of these birds was accustomed to feed. It first made off 

 with either the A^eptis or Danais, I could not see which, then the 

 Appias. It then flew away, and I picked up one of the Terias 

 and Hypolimnas. This last had a good deal, perhaps half, the 

 wings left and fluttered about vigorously. 



1.4.09. Lethe daretis one, Vanessa harouica one, Terias hecabe 

 one, and the same U. bolina, treated in the same manner as on 

 the last occasion and put in the same place. The bird carried ofi" 

 the first two, but the JI. bolina seemed too large for it, as it was 

 for another Flycatchei- which came along shortly after the first 

 had flown off. I could not see what became of the T. hecabe. 

 The same afternoon a similar experiment, but with no result. 



9.4.09. This bird has evidently migrated as I have seen none 

 since the last note. It nests in the Himalayas. 



The Ceylonese Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Stoparola sordida. 



This bird is peculiar to Ceylon but confined to the hill-tracts. 



2.4.09. Placed Terias hecabe two dead, Argynnis hyperbius one, 

 Danais fiimata three, Appias galene one, these latter alive but 

 lai'gely deprived of their wings, near the cherry-tree much fre- 

 quented by Flycatchers. The cock bird carried off one D. fumata, 

 its mate another ; the latter I was enabled to watch closely, and 

 it had extreme difliculty in swallowing the fly on account of the 

 wings. The former shortly afterwards returned and carried off 

 the remaining D. fumata, but the latter seemingly had had 

 enough of it. Shortly after a Red-breasted Flycatcher flew off 

 with the Appias. What became of A. hyperbius I do not know, 

 but the two dead Terias were untouched. 



Numerous specimens of the above butterflies were flying 

 about at the time, but I have never seen these Flj^catchers molest 

 them. 



5.4.09. Placed T. hecabe one, D. fumata one, and A. hyperbius 



51* 



