742 LT.-COL. N. MANDER3 ON THE 



that in the observations I have been able to collect, the Euploeines 

 and Danaines, popularly supposed to be highly distasteful, figure 

 more largely as victims than any other grovip. I believe this to 

 be simply due to the fact that these butterflies occur in very 

 large numbers, and not that distinct preference is shown for 

 them. Admitting that more evidence is needed, I doubt whether 

 future investigations will I'eveal an}^ marked prefei'ence in those 

 birds which are mainly instrumental in the destmiction of 

 butterflies, for the reason that their dietary is of such a mixed 

 character ; and if this were so, or if what I have hei'e set forth 

 be considered sufficient to settle the question, it is difficult to 

 avoid the conclusion that the unpalatability of these butterflies 

 has been assumed on insufficient data. It is interesting to recall 

 Professoi' Meldolas remarks written so long ago as 1879, when 

 Mliller first propounded his theory of mimicry (Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 Lond. 1879):— 



" .... it may be fairly asked how far we know that such 

 imitated gi'oups as Hellconius, Eiq^lcea, Danais, Acrcea, etc., are 

 distasteful. But very few obsei-vations have, as far as I am 

 aware, been made even upon these groups which are generally 

 admitted to be the objects of imitation, and I certainly know of 

 no systematic experiments conducted with these models and their 

 insectivorous foes." 



The Bee-eaters seem to show some pai'tiality for the yellow and 

 white butterflies of the Catopsilia and A ppia s grow]) ; but whether 

 this is more apparent than real is not clear. It may be that these 

 butterflies are more i^eadily seen and easier to capture than 

 others ; but if it could be proved that there is a distinct preference 

 for them, it is noteworthy, considering the destruction that 

 undoubtedly takes place, that though very variable they do not 

 act as models or mimics, or form Miillerian combinations, either 

 in India or Ceylon. 



Failing the butterfly-eaters, what evidence is there that the 

 birds of group 2, and gi'oup 3, show preference in their moi'e or 

 less desultory attacks ? There is no doubt that those expei'imented 

 on showed none, and that they took no notice of butterflies unless 

 they were mutilated and rendered easy of capture. I should 

 much wish to see further experiments on wild birds of these two 

 groups undertaken, but if the butterfly-eaters do not conduce to 

 mimicry, it is doubtful to my mind if the partial feeders would 

 do so. 



In the present state of our knowledge it is difficult to say what 

 is or what is not an unpalatable genus, and the position is further 

 complicated hy the proposition that unpalatable species are killed 

 in numbers sufficient to produce a. special form of mimicry. It 

 is unfortunate that theoi-etical considerations rather than observa- 

 tions and experiments in the field have hitherto preponderated 

 in this matter. It seems to me that the terms palatable and 

 unpalatable are not justified at present. 



