654 F. Finn — Experiments with various Birds. [No. 4, 



I had taken out last night, with two more D. chrysippus. Soon after 

 one of the P. polites had disappeared, although the other, with the three 

 D. chrysippus and the P. aristolocJiise were left. This I observed after I 

 had let the bird out, unfortunately to meet, the fate above described. 



About this time I also experimented with a Shama (Kittacincla 

 macrura) one of the smaller or Robin-like members of the great Thrush 

 group. These birds, as every observer knows, peck their prey to pieces, 

 and do not use their feet to hold it, thus differing widely from their 

 relatives the Babblers, which are a more tropical group. The Shama, 

 however, and many other Thrush-like birds inhabit the Oriental region. 

 This bird was hand-reared and very tame, and I experimented with it 

 in a cage, feeding it on maggots, meal-paste, and small green (dried) 

 insects. 



With regard to the probability of birds of this group attacking 

 butterflies, I may say I have seen a Redstart (Buticilla sp. ?), in nature, 

 at Dehi a Dun, seize a very large Catopsilia I put out for it, decapitated, 

 and apparently it satisfactorily disposed of it. 



Experiments with Shama. 



November 26th. — I put in the Shama' s cage a Catopsilia, and after- 

 wards another non-warningly-coloured butterfly, a small greyish species. 

 Both disappeared and were doubtless eaten by the bird. 



November 27th. — I put in the cage of the Shama (which was 

 not hungry) a Catopsilia and a Danais chrysippus. The bird was 

 soon pecking at the former, which shortly disappeared ; the Danais 

 had also been pecked. A moment after the bird was attacking this, 

 but the body remained uneaten, though most of the wings were 

 picked off. I soon after put in a Delias eucharis and a Junonia, the 

 latter of which was immediately pecked about and eaten, while the 

 Delias was pecked once or twice and left. I then put in another 

 D. chrysippus, which the bird pecked to pieces, but did not eat ; it then 

 pecked about and ate a male Nepheronia hippia which I put in. A 

 little time after this, I found that the abdomen of the second Danais 

 given had disappeared ; I put in a third specimen and two Catopsilias, 

 both of which latter the bird pecked, and then started to attack one, 

 disregarding the Danais, and soon ate it. Then it began upon the other, 

 which soon disappeared. The (body of the) first Danais given, and the 

 third, with the D. eucharis remained uneaten. However the bird soon 

 attacked this third Danais, but did not eat it. I then put in four Catop- 

 silias, which were immediately attacked, and soon disappeared, the 

 three " protected" specimens being still left. I then put in two Papilio 

 demoleus. These were attacked, but less eagerly, but ultimately part of 

 one was apparently eaten, and most of the wings stripped from the 



