Rejection of Insects by Birds . 325 
large aviaries fitted up with natural branches and growing 
shrubs and trees. 
I made my first observation on the 27th April, when I 
turned full-grown females of the two spiders Tegenaria 
domestica and Dysdera Gambridgei into the aviary containing 
the Blue Robins, Waxbills, and Mannikins. Not one of the 
birds showed the least fear of them (the smallest birds, as a 
matter of fact, do not fear the largest British spiders), but the 
cock Blue Robin flew down at once and devoured each as soon 
as it began to run. 
On the 1st of May I obtained a number of larvae of the 
cockchafer ( Melolonthci vulgaris) , and on the 1st, 2nd, and 
3rd of the month I gave examples to the Fieldfare, Black- 
birds, Redwings, Blue Robins, Pekin Nightingales ( Leiothrix 
luteus ), Bulbul, and Great Tit ; the Blackbirds, Bulbul, and 
Great Tit ate theirs immediately, the Blue Robins killed but 
did not relish theirs, the other birds ignored the larvae. 
On May 4th and throughout the summer hundreds of the 
two white butterflies Ganoris rapce and brassicce have been 
eaten with great satisfaction by the Blue Robins, Yellow 
Hammer, Nonpareils, Indigo-Finch, and Chaffinches. 
On the 1st and 19th June I turned larvae of Hyponomeuta 
padella into my outside Finch aviary and into the Blue-Robin 
aviary ; the Indigo-Finch ate one or two but did not relish 
them ; the other birds ignored them *. 
On June 9th and 10th I offered soldier-beetles ( Telephorus ) 
to the Blue Robins and Chaffinches, which appeared to eat 
them with pleasure ; yet, after this date, although I repeatedly 
offered this beetle to them, both species refused to touch it. 
On the 19th June I obtained the first specimens of Eristalis 
tenax and turned them into my three largest aviaries : the 
Blue Robins, Orange Weavers, and Nonpareils examined 
this fly, but would not eat it, although last year the Non- 
pareils ate a considerable number ; the Indigo-Finch, how- 
ever, at once flew down, seized and ate the flies with pleasure. 
About the middle of the month my hen Blue Robin went 
to nest and the cock became most attentive to her, carrying 
every insect to her until her eggs were hatched, when he 
transferred his attentions to the young. On the 27th June, 
however, previous to the hatching of the eggs, I found a large 
gravid female of the gooseberry-moth ( Abraxas grossulariata ) , 
which, when thrown into the aviary with the Indigo-Finch 
and Buntings, feigned death and so escaped notice : I there- 
* It will be remembered that this larva was much enjoyed by a speci- 
men of Carpodacus formerly in my possession. 
Ann, & Mag . N, Hist . Ser. 6. Vol, vi. 
23 
