1897.] F. Finn — Experiments with various Birds. 615- 



The experiments were usually on consecutive days. 



I. Put into the aviary an insect-cage containing a number of 

 non-warningly-coloured butterflies (Papilio demoleus, Catopsilia and 

 Junonid), with one Delias eucharis* and fonr Danais chrysippus. Two 

 Catopsilias. were taken when they came out by Liothrix, while a 

 D. chrysippus was not. 1 then took out the butterflies and put them into 

 the aviary through the netting. Presently a Bulbul deliberately took 

 a D. chrysippus and ate it whole, though it might have had other butter- 

 flies. 



I then saw another D. chrysippus eaten whole by a Bulbul. The 

 Liothrix did not seem to attack them, though they took Junonias. I 

 saw a Liothrix take a Catopsilia after rejecting a D. chrysippus. It then 

 left this and took a Junonia, which it ate nearly whole. 



I then saw a Bulbul take a D. chrysippus (the only butterfly near 

 it) which it prepared to swallow, but dropped accidentally ; what 

 happened next I did not see. 



II. Put into the aviary a number of non-warningly-coloured but- 

 terflies and two D. chrysippus ; the latter were not attacked by the 

 Liothrix, but eaten whole by two Bulbuls, being the first butterflies 

 attacked (they were nearest) by these birds, which did not, at any rate 

 immediately, eat others. Both sexes of Elymnias undularis were among 

 the insects put in, and I saw the females were not avoided by the 

 Liothrix, but seized. 



III. Put in a number of non-warningly-coloured butterflies and 

 four Danais chrysippus. One Danais was eaten by a Bulbul, and one 

 taken and left by a Liothrix, these birds attacking other butterflies. 



Another Bulbul took a non-warningly-coloured butterfly, and a 

 third a Papilio demoleus, which seemed to give it much trouble, and it 

 did not eat it. A Bulbul then flew down and took and ate a 

 D. chrysippus, though there were other butterflies on the floor. (I have 

 seen a Liothrix peck the wings of a Catopsilia and then leave it). 



Neither Liothrix nor Bulbuls offered to touch a Delias eucharis 

 even when it fluttered close to them. 



Two D. chrysippus and some other butterflies were uneaten, and 

 the birds were going to roost, when I put in a number of Danais 

 chrysippus, and some D. limniace and JSuplcea. None were attacked as 

 far as I saw. The Bulbuls should have been hungry, as there was no 

 fruit in the cage at the time, though I then put in some. 



* Another specimen of this species was the only butterfly that remained 

 uneaten from the previous day, when I had given many butterflies and seen both 

 warningly-coloured and harmless species attacked, before regularly taking these 

 notes. 



