IX.—Living Food for Insectivorous Biuis. 45


resemblance to pieces of twig, nor because they are unpleasant

to the taste, although the latter may partly explain the rejection

by some birds of the caterpillar of the Swallow-tailed moth

(Urcipteryx sambucaria) when it has been feeding upon Irish ivy,

but rather because they are extremely tough. I have seen some

of my birds trying to break up caterpillars of this character for a

considerable time and giving it up in the end as hopeless; only

birds with powerful bills are successful. The black caterpillar of

the Brindled beauty (Bislon hirtaria), by no means a pretty moth

by the way, is easily collected from the trunks of lime-trees, but is

one of the toughest of its kind. On the other hand the little cater¬

pillars of the V.-moth (Halia vauaria) a gooseberry pest, are a

favourite food of the Titmice; indeed I once watched a Blue-tit

for quite half an hour feeding its young upon these caterpillars

alone : on the other hand the spotted larvae of the common

Gooseberry-moth (Abraxasgrossulariata) are rejected with disgust

by most birds, as well as by lizards, frogs, and spiders, although

Mr. Page says that he has seen his Weavers eating them : the cry-

salides of the same moth, with their wasp-like colouring are also

generally refused, but the moths are occasionally accepted and my

male Blue-bird was very fond of them. In like manner the cater¬

pillars of the large white butterfly (Ganoris brassicce) are generally

refused, but the chrysalides and perfect insects devoured without

hesitation. Size does not seem to alarm birds, for a Blue-tit in

one of my aviaries captured in the air a full-sized female of the

Poplar hawk-moth (Smerinthus populi ) tore off the wings and

carried it to a perch to eat it; neither does the so-called terrify¬

ing attitude of certain caterpillars of hawk-moths seem to affect

the nerves of birds to the slightest extent. The caterpillars of

the Puss-moth, common on willows and poplars, is approached

with caution by all birds excepting the Tits, which are familiar

with it and recognize it as providing an excellent meal ; un¬

doubtedly its very bizarre shape and colouring and the existence

of two tentacles on the last segment from which it can eject an

acid liquid renders most birds wary of it.


No doubt a cabbage-field is the best place in which to

seek for edible caterpillars, those of the common Cabbage-moth

(Mamestra brassicce ) in various shades of green and brown, some



