344 Frank Finn — Theory of Warning Colours and Mimicry. [No. 3, 
spur slender curved, longer than the ovary, slightly compressed laterally. 
Column very short: stigmas large, tapering towards the entrance to 
the spur. Pollinia cylindric, slightly clavate, rather longer than their 
caudicles and attached to them at half a right angle; gland small, sub- 
rotund. 
Sikkim: at Gnatong; elevation 11,000 feet: flowering in July; 
collected by Mr. Pantling and also by Dr. Cummins; Surgeon to the 
detachment of troops stationed near the Thibet frontier, to whom we 
have dedicated the species. 
This belongs to the section Hologlossa and is allied to EL. pachy- 
caulon , Hook, fil., but it is perfectly distinct from that species. 
Contributions to the Theory of Warning Colours and Mimicry , No. T. 
Experiments with a Babbler (Crateropus canorus).—By Frank Finn, 
B.A., F.Z.S., Deputy Superintendent of the Indian Museum . 
Not long after my arrival in Calcutta in October 1894, I commenced 
some researches on the common “ warningly coloured ” butterflies of 
the locality, in the hope of supplying some of that experimental proof of 
the unpalatability of such species, the insufficiency of which Professor 
Poulton (the Colours of Animals, p. 227) so justly deplores. My most 
.complete experiments were made with the common Babbler Crateropus 
canorus, a representative and abundant insectivorous bird in India, 
whose habit of going about in small flocks is indicated by its native 
name of “ sat-bhai ” and the English ones of “ Seven Brothers ” and 
‘‘ Seven Sisters.” This bird, as it frequents trees and bushes, though 
often feeding on the ground in the open at a short distance from 
these, must constantly encounter butterflies in repose; that it often 
succeeds in capturing them on the wing I very much doubt, its weak 
clumsy flight being certainly most ill-adapted for such a performance. 
Though it can swallow whole butterflies of considerable size, it often 
transfers its prey to one foot, and thus holding it, easily picks off the 
wings. In confinement this species speedily becomes tame enough 
to feed from the hand, and will eat table scraps, boiled rice, &c., quite 
readily. So tame were some birds which I kept, that, when after being 
kept about a fortnight (some of them longer) they were released, they 
stayed about the compound for about three days, still willing to take 
insects from my hands. Thus I had an opportunity of checking -the 
results of the experiments I had made on them during their incarcera¬ 
tion—a piece of good fortune which has not so far, I believe, fallen to 
the lot of any previous experimenter. 
