Uneatable larvae, on the other hand, comprise all that are of conspicuous colours and are hairy or spiny.

But with butterflies there is no such simplicity of contrast.

The eatable butterflies comprise not only brown or white species, but hundreds of Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Lycaenidae, etc., which are gaily coloured and of an immense variety of patterns.

The colours and patterns of the inedible kinds are also greatly varied, while they are often equally gay; and it is quite impossible to suppose that any amount of instinct or inherited habit (if such a thing exists) could enable young insectivorous birds to distinguish all the species of one kind from all those of the other.
There is also some evidence to show that animals do learn by experience what to eat and what to avoid.

Mr.Poulton was assured by Rev.G.J.
Bursch that very young chickens peck at insects which they afterwards avoid.