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
coeruleocephala, whose larvae is pale yellow with a broad blue or green
lateral band--the Cucullia verbasci, whose larvae is greenish white with
yellow bands and black spots, and Anthrocera filipendulae (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 of
larvae which were greedily eaten, but they were in every case rejected
apparently unnoticed, and were left to crawl about till they died.

The next set of observations were on the dull-coloured and protected
larvae, and the results of numerous experiments are thus summarised by
Mr. Weir. "All caterpillars whose habits are nocturnal, which are dull
coloured, with fleshy bodies and smooth skins, are eaten with the
greatest avidity. Every species of green caterpillar is also much
relished. All Geometrae, whose larvae resemble twigs as they stand out
from the plant on their anal prolegs, are invariably eaten."

At the same meeting Mr. A. G. Butler, of the British Museum,
communicated the results of his observations with lizards, frogs, and
spiders, which strikingly corroborate those of Mr. Weir. Three green
lizards (Lacerta viridis) which he kept for several years, were very
voracious, eating all kinds of food, from a lemon cheesecake to a
spider, and devouring flies, caterpillars, and humble bees; yet there
were some caterpillars and moths which they would seize only to drop
immediately. Among these the principal were the caterpillar of the
Magpie moth (Abraxas grossulariata) and the perfect six spot Burnet moth
(Anthrocera filipendulae). These would be first seized but invariably
dropped in disgust, and afterwards left unmolested. Subsequently frogs
were kept and fed with caterpillars from the garden, but two of
these--that of the before-mentioned Magpie moth, and that of the V. moth
(Halia wavaria), which is green with conspicuous white or yellow stripes
and black spots--were constantly rejected. When these species we