328 MR. C. F. M. SWYNNKRTON ON THE 



and at once flung right away an Acrcea asema, but readily ate a Mycalesis campina 

 and a second bug, and, ten minutes later again, yet another bug — once more with 

 no real sign of dislike. She then looked puzzled over a piece of raw " Zwidata " 

 [Plectranthus tuberosus), a native vegetable that is not unlike a Jerusalem artichoke, 

 but accepted, tasted it well, and readily swallowed it. 



Later, happening to catch an ichneumon in my hand — Osprynchoius Jlavipes S — 

 I offered it to the roller. She tasted and at once rejected it, the ichneumon flying 

 off unharmed, but she crushed and readily ate a Cryptacrus comes. 



[M. campina and Cryptacrus comes would appear to have been preferred to 

 A. asema and O.Jlavipes. The eating of the bit of Plectranthus root was interesting 

 in connection with the question of instinctive recognition of food.] 



Exp. 123. — Later experiment. Ate several small grasshoppers, a Cryptacrus 

 combes, a Mycalesis camjnna, five more small grasshoppers, a Mycalesis campina, 

 a Cryptacrus comes, two more small grasshoppers, and again a Myc. campina and 

 a Cryptacrus comes, three more small grasshoppers, and again a bug, but refused, 

 then chatiged her mind, and ate a Mycalesis campina, then one large grasshoppei-, 

 after which she refused to eat any more grasshoppers though I offered several, but 

 again readily ate a Mycalesis campina and another bug, as also after great crushing 

 and battering a large Saturniid, Gynanisa ethra. She then once more refused to eat 

 grasshoppers, but readily ate a Sphingomorpha chlorea, refused to have anything to 

 do with a Myc. campina, but ate after much crushing — indicative pi'obably of 

 hesitation or disinclination — another large Cryj^tacrus comes (white form) and 

 again refused to taste a Myc. campina. She nevertheless accepted and ate a dead 

 Papilio angolanus, but once more refused grasshoppers and this time another of 

 the bugs. 



[Order : — 



Red Cryptacrus comes, f, ,_, , ^ / i • r- \ 



^ ,. ^ ,7 \\. P. anqoLanus, Cryptacrus comes (vfhite lovxa). 



tSphingomorphacnLorea,< j ■> ^i \ j 



2. M. campina. 



Gynanisa ethra. 



3. Grasshoppers.] 



Exp. 124. — December 18. Hungry. Tasted and at once i-ejected a Phytophagous 

 beetle. 



Exp. 125. — Becemher 20. Hungry; refused obstinately to taste a Phytophagous 

 beetle, crushed very thoroughly, obviously half tempted to swallow it, then 

 rejected a Meloid, Upicaicta thoracica, readily ate a Myc. campina, tasted and 

 at once flung away a moth, Olapa nuda, tasting it more hesitatingly and again 

 flinging it away on my reoffering it, and once more subjected an Epicauta 

 to the same prolonged tasting as before, before finally rejecting it. These 

 Meloids had only just been captured close by, so would presumably still retain 

 their objectionable qualities in full strength. They seemed to be far less 

 unacceptable (whatever their after-affects may be) than the Lymantriid moth. 



[Order: — 1. M. campina. 2. Epicauta thoracica. 3. Phytophagous beetle and 

 Olapa nuda.] 



