1912,] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 309 
FRoGs: 
Cresus septentrionalis, Vai. ccc A A 
Thus it appears that these experiments are inconsistent among 
themselves, and from the fact that at least fifteen of the forty-four 
insects alleged to have been proved distasteful by the experiments 
are known to be eaten by wild British birds, we are justified in 
suspecting that the experimental results do not accurately indicate 
behavior under natural conditions. 
A fifth table by Poulton comprises the results of experiments with 
insects which are protectively colored or which evade their enemies 
by other means. On the'theory, therefore, all of these insects should 
be eaten freely by insectivorous animals. However, in sixteen out 
of sixty-eight cases, more than 23 per cent.,*® the “evidences of 
distaste’’ are fully as strong as in the majority of the cases in the 
first four tables. Taking this fact in connection with that previously 
adduced, to the effect that 17 per cent. of the “protected”’ insects 
were not shown to be “unpalatable” to anything, and the additional 
fact that sixteen out of the forty-four, or 36 per cent., were included 
on the basis of disregard (some of them being eaten also), it is quite 
clear, that the insects, etc., were sorted out into the various tables, 
in accordance with the requirements of the theory, experimental 
evidence to the contrary notwithstanding. If authors are not 
consistent in the interpretation of the results of experiments, how 
can they expect others to have faith in them? 
Poulton tries to explain the refusals of certain “protectively 
colored” imago Lepidoptera; for instance, with regard to Vanessa 
urtice he says (p. 246): ‘‘I have no doubt that the refusal of some 
frogs was due to scales only,” and of Pieris brassice, ‘eaten readily 
by all lizards, but not much relished, I believe, because of the mechani- 
cal difficulty of the scales and wings and not from being actually 
unpalatable.”” We cannot accept these explanations (which no 
doubt are true) without asking that they be made to cover the 
refusals of all adult Lepidoptera (of proper size for the animal experi- 
mented with). This would affect four species of Table IV and seven 
in Table V. We find Poulton later regarding P. brassice as intrinsi- 
cally unpalatable (P. Z. S., 1911, pp. 864, 865). 
The inconspicuous larve of Mania typica were tasted and rejected 
by Lacerta muralis, Poulton’s comment is: “At first sight a most 
% This does not take into account earthworms and fly larve, which were 
rejected as well as refused, although the fact is not stated in the table. 
