liemarks on the Entomology of Angola. 337 



which the Fauna of the Cape bears to that of other countries 

 of Africa. 



Under these circumstances, a small collection of insecta, 

 formed in the Portuguese possessions of Angola, and presented 

 to the Royal Entomological Museum by the Privy Councillor 

 of Medicine, Dr Schonlein, has created considerable interest, 

 as it promises to enlarge our knowledge of Africa. A careful 

 examination has led to the conclusion, that the Fauna of 

 Angola stands between that of the Senegal and of Guinea, 

 on the one hand, and that of the Cape on the other, since 

 it embraces not only a great number of species, but likewise 

 several characteristic genera, which are common to those 

 countries, and since it forms the connecting line between 

 the Fauna of South Africa, and that of its central regions. 

 We are indebted for this collection to Mr Edward Gross- 

 bendtner. This gentleman, honoured by the support and 

 patronage of Dr. Schonlein, accompanied the Consul-Gene- 

 ral, Dos Santos, on a commercial expedition, consisting of six 

 vessels, and had thus an opportunity of visiting the Portuguese 

 settlements of Angola, Benguela, of St Paolo de Loanda, and 

 of the independent negro empire of Ambriz. 



This enterprise turned out to be unsuccessful, more espe- 

 cially as the Commander himself was carried off by the effects 

 of the climate. The expedition arrived in Benguela on the 

 10th October, the weather being then very favourable. The 

 sight of a luxuriant vegetation, and a temperature of about 90°, 

 seemed to hold out the most flattering prospects; but the 

 naturalist, Mr Grossbendtner, and the botanist, Mr Wrede, 

 were unexpectedly detained on board, and afterwards towards 

 the end of October, when many Europeans perished from dis- 

 eases caused by the rainy season, both gentlemen fell victims 

 to their enthusiasm. According to the catalogue published 

 by the Privy Councillor of Medicine, Dr Schonlein, the col- 

 lection of Grossbendtner, who, during his few days of good 

 health, spared no trouble in bringing it together, consists of 

 2140 specimens of Coleoptera belonging to 173 species, and of 

 20 butterflies. Part of it has probably been lost, because, 

 from the time of his death, no one on board of the ship took 

 an interest in the preservation of these curiosities. 



