OCR Text |
Show 1887.] VALUE OF COLOUR AND MARKINGS IN INSECTS. 251 (continued). Experimental evidence. E. B. Poulton. IMAGINES (continued). I have often seen it pursued by birds with great persistence ; they evidently relish it much, and make great efforts to catch it. Eaten directly by L. muralis, and evidently relished. J. Jenner Weir. J. Jenner Weir has seen a Swallow chase this Moth by day, making " several ineffectual attempts to seize it." The Moth, however, escaped. It was evidently considered a very desirable capture. Eaten by Lizards... Evidently much appreciated by the birds, but even in the av iary its rapid movements and slipperiness made it very difficult to capture. Eaten by Lizards. Eaten greedily by Lizards, but apparently swallowed with difficulty, probably because of the scales. Eaten by Lizards ... Other observers. Bearing upon Wallace's converse suggestion. Support. Strong support, as in T. pronuba. There is no doubt that it is also relished by birds. Strong support in the special character of the defence suited to so many emergencies ; protected at rest; again, when detected or disturbed, by appearance and mode of flight; and, again, when captured, by it slipperiness and great strength; and all this coexisting with and following from the fact that it is keenly relished and much pursued. Support. Support. Support. Eaten by L. muralis Support. |