PALATABILITY OF SOME BRITISH IXSECTS. 815 



INSECTA. 



Older LEPIDOPTERA. 



Butterflies. 



Group Pi ERIN ^. 

 The Small White {Pieris rapce). 



July 31, 1909. One male (dead) given to Capuchin {Cehus sp. a) 

 was taken at once, and eaten without being removed from the 

 mouth for inspection. This specimen, given with E^i,chloe carda- 

 mmes (see p. 820), was used as a check upon the behaviour of the 

 monkey towards Euchel'ia jacohcece and Melitcea artemis (pp. 825 

 and 832). 



Sept. 6, 1910. One offered to a Red-handed Marmoset was 

 inspected, but not touched ; but was eagerly taken and eaten by 

 another animal of the same species. This Marmoset then ate a 

 specimen of Perarge megcera, his behaviour suggesting that the 

 two butterflies were equally palatable to him. 



May 26, 1909, One chased at once b}'^ Shrike-Thrush and Dial 

 Bird, but evaded them and escaped through the partition into 

 next cage, where it was promptly caught on the wing by a 

 Fantailed Flycatcher and eaten. 



One caught at once on wing by Great Tit and eaten. 

 Aug. 21 to 27, 1910. One gTeedily eaten by cock Silver 

 Pheasant. 



One let loose in aviary skilfully dodged the swoop both of a 

 Shama and a Wood-Swallow, and escaped. 



One given to Dial Bird, which took it from my hands and 

 damaged it by the peck so that it was unable to fly away. Again 

 and again he pecked the buttei'fly as it fluttered about on the 

 ground, but would not hold it. Ultimately it escaped under the 

 partition into the next aviary, where it was povinced upon by a 

 Weaver, which held it in his foot and ate it, leaving the wings. 



Sept. 6, 1910. One taken by Masked Wood-Swallow and eaten 

 after much delay and pecking. The bird evident!}' was not very 

 keen on the insect ; but he would not allow any other bird to 

 take it fi-om him. He did not once shake his head or wipe his 

 beak as if there was any distasteful flavour. 



One female taken and eaten by Lud wig's Bustard. 

 Sept. 7, 1910. One male and one female taken and eaten 

 eagerly and with equal avidity by Green Lizard. 



Larva of the Small White {P. rapce), fed on cabbage. 



Sept, 21, 1910. One tasted but i^ejected by Yarrell's Curassow 

 and Globose Curassow. 



The Green-veined White {Pieris napi). 



July 31, 1 909. One offered to White-tailed Mongoose, to three 



56* 



