MAYER: COLOR AND COLOR-PATTERNS. 
277 
rubi, which are very similar in appearance to those of Euchelia. 
The lizards first cautiously examined the larvae, and finally ate them. 
After this Weismann reintroduced the E. jacobaeae larvae and the 
lizards were seen to taste them, apparently mistaking them for the 
edible L. rubi caterpillars. 
Poulton (’87) carried out a most careful and well-conducted 
research upon the protective value of color and markings in insects 
in reference to their vertebrate enemies. He experimented upon three 
species of lizards and a tree-frog. Poulton combines his results with 
those of other observers and presents them in the form of a table, 
which certainly supports the suggestion of Wallace (’67), that 
brilliant and conspicuous larvae would be refused as food by some 
at least of their enemies. Poulton also shows that a limit to the 
success of this method of defence (conspicuous larvae having 
unpleasant taste or smell) would result from the hunger which the 
success itself tends to produce. In the Tropics, indeed, where 
insectivorous birds and lizards are far more numerous than with us, 
and where competition for food is great among them, “ we may feel 
sure that some at least would be sufficiently enterprising to make the 
best of unpleasant food, which has at least the advantage of being 
easily seen and caught.” This last suggestion of Poulton certainly 
seems reasonable ; moreover, it has occurred to me that young birds, 
being but little skilled in the art of obtaining their food, might quite 
often be forced by hunger to try various kinds of insects, and per¬ 
haps even the Heliconidae themselves. 
Beddard (’92, p. 153-167) reports the results of an extensive 
series of experiments carried out by Mr. Finn and himself upon 
marmosets, birds, lizards, and toads. He arrives at conclusions which 
are quite different from those of Poulton and others, but it appears 
to me that his experiments were by no means so critically performed 
as those of Poulton. He frequently threw larvae into a cage con¬ 
taining many birds and observed them struggle for the prey. It 
may well be, however, that a bird would be quite willing to swallow 
a very unsavory mouthful in order to prevent any of its companions 
from, apparently, enjoying it. However, Beddard found that 
toads will eat any insect without hesitation in spite of brilliant 
coloration, strong odors, or stings. He also found that birds and 
marmosets would often devour “conspicuously colored ” larvae with¬ 
out any hesitation, and that some “protectively colored” or incon¬ 
spicuous larvae were refused. There can be no doubt that many 
