PALATABILITY OF SOME BRITISH INSECTS. 823 



The Red Admiral [Pyrameis atalanta). 



Aug. 21, 1910. One taken and eaten greedily by Lion 

 Marmoset. 



One pursued b}' 8hama, which grabbed it by the hind wing and 

 thereby lost the butterfly, which flew away and escaped through 

 the wires of the aviary. 



The Painted Lady {Pyrameis cardid). 



Aug. 27, 1910. One given to Pearl-spotted Owl was taken at 

 once and swallowed entire after a little preliminary pecking. 



This was a test experiment to ascertain the meaning of the 

 bird's behaviour towards Pier is hrassicce. (see p. 817). 



Araschnia levana. Late summer form prorsa. 



July 8, 1911. One given to Harmonious Shrike-Thrush, an 

 Australian bird, was taken at once, but after being pecked and 

 tasted for some little time, was rejected. The remains were then 

 greedily eaten by a Wood-Thrush, from North America. A fresh 

 specimen given to this same Wood-Thrush was just as readily 

 swallowed ; but the Shrike-Thrush upon taking another, treated 

 it as befoi-e, wiped it in the sand, shook his head, and allowed 

 himself to be robbed by a Black-chinned Laughing Thrush, which 

 ate it and another without hesitation. 



One taken and eaten, Ijut very slowly and with much pecking 

 about, by a Hoopoe, which, after swallowing the last particle, 

 appeared to tiy to vomit it back but without success. 



A Blue Rock-Thrush and a Common Rock-TliiTish , both 

 European birds, each ate one greedily. 



One pecked and tasted for some little time Vjy Orange-headed 

 Ground-Thrush, which obviously did not care for the flavour, and 

 allowed himself to be robbed by the Blue Rock-Thrush mentioned 

 above. 



One liberated in aviary dodged the pursuit of a Shama and a 

 Sibia with great skill, and escaped. 



One given to Shama was pecked and tasted for some time, but 

 the bii-d allowed himself to be robbed by a Wood-Swallow, which, 

 after much pecking, swallowed the butterfly. 



This peifoi-mance was repeated exactly when one was given to 

 the Sibia, the same Wood-Swallow taking it from him ; but I 

 think the Sibia would have eaten it ultimately. 



One given to Grey-headed Friar Bii-d, from Australia, was 

 taken and tasted for a long time and then dropped, given again 

 to the same bird, was again tasted and dropped. The remains 

 w^ere then eaten without much delay by a Larger Hill Mynah. 



One given to a Dial Bird was taken and after much tasting 

 was resolutely rejected. The remains were then given to a 



