308 On the Relations of Indian Insectivorous Birds to Butterflies.


3. That the mimics of these are at any rate relatively palatable,


and that the mimicry is commonly effectual under

natural conditions.


4. That each bird has to separately acquire its experience, and


well remembers what it has learned.


That therefore on the whole, the theory of Wallace and

Bates is supported by the facts detailed in this and my former

papers, so far as they deal with birds (and with the one Mammal

used). Professor Poulton's suggestion that animals may be

forced by hunger to eat unpalatable forms is also more than

confirmed, as the unpalatable forms were commonly eaten with-

out the stimulus of actual hunger ; generally also, I may add,

without signs of dislike.


To future experimenters I would offer the following hints

derived from my experiences as detailed in this series of papers.


1. Use animals at liberty for experimenting with if possible.


2. If these are not available, confine your subjects singly, and


feed them well and naturally, letting them be neither

hungry nor pampered. Cages should be of portable

size (about two feet every way) and made (for birds) of

half-inch mesh wire netting with plain wooden floor

without a tray. This is to prevent insects getting out or

being concealed.


3. Use wild-caught specimens in preference to hand-reared ones.


4. Remember that the best and often the only way to determine


an animal's tastes is to offer it a choice.



The second number of British Birds contains, as a frontispiece, an

excellent photogravure portrait of the late Professor Newton and a memoir

of that distinguished naturalist, from the pen of Dr. Bowdler Sharpe.


Mr. P. H. Bahr continues his interesting account of the home life of

the Osprey as observed by him in America. The claim of the British

Willow Tit to be recognised as a distinct species is defended by the Hon.

Walter Rothschild. Mr. Selous continues his account of the nesting habits

of some rare British Birds as observed abroad, while Messrs. Witherby aud

Ticehurst write on " The more important additions to our knowledge of

British Birds since 1899."


Many interesting notes and letters combine to make this number an

exceedingly good one.



