84 
NATURAL SELECTION 
hi 
only obtained one answer from a gentleman in Cumberland, 
who gave me some interesting observations on the general 
dislike and abhorrence of all birds to the “Gooseberry 
Caterpillar,” probably that of the Magpie moth (Abraxas 
grossulariata). Neither young pheasants, partridges, nor wild 
ducks could be induced to eat it, sparrows and finches never 
touched it, and all birds to whom he offered it rejected it 
with evident dread and abhorrence. It will be seen that these 
observations are confirmed by those of two members of the 
Entomological Society, to whom we are indebted for more 
detailed information. 
In March 1869 Mr. J. Jenner Weir communicated a 
valuable series of observations made during many years, but 
more especially in the two preceding summers, in his aviary, 
containing the following birds of more or less insectivorous 
habits: — Robin, Yellow-hammer, Reed -bunting, Bullfinch, 
Chaffinch, Crossbill, Thrush, Tree-pipit, Siskin, and Redpoll. 
He found that hairy caterpillars were uniformly rejected ; 
five distinct species were quite unnoticed by all his birds, and 
were allowed to crawl about the aviary for days with impunity. 
The spiny caterpillars of the Tortoiseshell and Peacock but- 
terflies were equally rejected; but in both these cases Mr. 
Weir thinks it is the taste, not the hairs or spines, that 
is disagreeable, because some very young caterpillars of a 
hairy species were rejected although no hairs were developed, 
and the smooth pupse of the above-named butterflies were 
refused as persistently as the spined larvae. In these cases, 
then, both hairs and spines would seem to be mere signs of 
uneatableness. 
His next experiments were with those smooth gaily- 
coloured caterpillars which never conceal themselves, but on 
the contrary appear to court observation. Such are those of 
the Magpie moth (Abraxas grossulariata), whose caterpillar is 
conspicuously white and black spotted — the Diloba caeruleo- 
cephala, whose larva is pale yellow with a broad blue or 
green lateral band — the Cucullia verbasci, whose larva is 
greenish white with yellow bands and black spots, and 
Anthrocera filipendul® (the six spot Burnet moth), whose 
caterpillar is yellow with black spots. These were given to 
the birds at various times, sometimes mixed with other kinds 
