PALATABILITY OF SOME BRITISH INSECTS. 847 



The interest of the demonstration of the distastefuhiess of 

 Coccinella 7 -punctata lies in the fact that Coccinellidfe of various 

 kinds are mimicked in the tropics by insects of other orders, as 

 well as by spiders. 



Order HEMIPTERA. 

 Olive-brown Bug [Tropicoris rufipes). 



July 21, 1909. One (dead) given to Mona Monkey was eaten 

 after a great deal of handling, smelling and tasting. 



One put on tlie ground was tackled by Fantailed Flycatcher, 

 which pecked it some half dozen times. He was then driven ofi' 

 by a hen Black Tanager, which peclsied it and pecked it again, and 

 then left it. A Syrian Bulbul then flew up and tried it, but after 

 persevering for some little time gave it up. Then the Tanager 

 had another attempt, bvit left it. I then gave the mangled 

 remains to the Harmonious Shrike-Thrush, and after a little 

 pecking about he swallowed them. 



One (living) eaten with very little delay by Silver Pheasant ; 

 but put on the ground after being taken fi-om my hand. This 

 specimen was immature on arrival ; it moulted in the box, and 

 was apparently adult when given to the bird. 



One (dead) treated in the same way and eaten by the same 

 bird. 



Red and Black Bug {Therapha hyocyami). 



Sept. 20, 1910. One given to Pekin Robin was at once taken 

 and ultimately eaten ; but the bird took a long time over it, 

 pixtting it on the ground after each peck and vigorously shaking 

 his head before tasting it again. The behaviour of this bird was 

 exactly the same towards Coccinella 7 -punctata (p. 846). 



Order DIPTERA. 



Bombus-like Fly ( Volucella homhylans). 



July 26, 1909. One taken by Fantailed Flycatcher but after 

 being pecked and pulled about for some time, was left. The 

 Sulphury Tyrant then tried it, but also left it alone after much 

 pecking. Finally it was taken by Spectacled Thrush, which ate 

 it after much pecking and wiping in the sand. 



One given to Black-headed Sibia was eaten after a great deal 

 of pecking and breaking up. 



These experiments, as Dr. LongstaflT reminded me, suggest that 

 this fly is, at all events to a certain extent, unpalatable. If 

 fviture tests should prove it to be so, its likeness to Bomhus will 

 be an instance of MUllerian rather than of Batesian Mimicry. 



See also below, pp. 854-855. 



58* 



