| OCR Text |
Show 270 MR. E. B. POULTON ON THE PROTECTIVE [Mar. 1, by two Lizards even when motionless ; it was seized and eaten with great avidity (L. muralis). One Noctua pupa (found when digging in the garden ; almost certainly that of Mamestra brassica) was instantly seized, slightly crushed, and swallowed with great avidity (L. muralis). It was interesting to note the great difference between the treatment of this pupa and that of P. bueephala. May 21.-One imago of Anthocaris cardamines ( $ ) was seized and eaten immediately (L. muralis). May 30.-Two imagos of C. prasinana were eaten directly with avidity. A few larvse of Odonestis potatoria were placed in the cage of L. muralis a day or two before, and after long delay had disappeared by this date. Two were offered to the same Lizards on this day, and one was taken at once, the other being untouched for a long time. It is quite evident that the species is disliked, but that the Lizards will eat it if they are hungry. Several pupse of P. bueephala were introduced; from one of them an imago emerged almost immediately, and was at once seized and then relinquished by two or three individuals of L. muralis, but it was finally eaten, although evidently unpalatable. The pupee were not touched on this day. One imago of P. rapa was eaten at once. One imago of P. brassica was eaten, but not at once, by L. muralis. June 2.-One imago of P. rapa was eaten at once by L. muralis. June 4.-One pupa of Tryphana pronuba was eaten directly by L. muralis. One imago oi Euplexia lucipara was eaten directly by L. muralis. Two imagos oi Hepialus lupulinus were eaten directly by L. muralis. One imago of P. bueephala was seized at once but soon relinquished by L. muralis. June 6.-The P. bueephala imago introduced on June 4th had now disappeared ; another was offered on this day and was at once seized and eaten by L. muralis. The larvse of O. potatoria had now disappeared. Three imagos of P. rapa were eaten at once by L. muralis. One imago of P. brassica was eaten immediately by L. muralis. After this last date the various species of Lizards to which insects were offered were always accurately noted, and were indicated by the numbers I., III., IV., V., and VI. placed upon their respective cages, and which contained the following species :- I. Lacerta muralis (var. tiliguerta), about a dozen fine specimens. III. One § Lacerta viridis and two <£ of the same species: all fine individuals. IV. L. muralis, var. tiliguerta : about half a dozen full-grown specimens. V. A iew small individuals of L. muralis (more than one variety). VI. One $ L. viridis, a very fine specimen, and one full-grown Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica). |
