8 RHOPALOCERA AFRICA AUSTRALIS. 



marking, is to be found among these beautiful insects. In 

 size, they vary from some of the tiny " Blues " ( Lycoence), 

 scarcely more than half an inch across the expanded wings, 

 to the great Omithopteras of the Indian Archipelago, and the 

 splendid Morphidce of Brazil, some of which attain an 

 expanse of from six to nine inches. It is in the tropical 

 regions that Butterflies, in common with most other classes 

 of animals, attain to their highest development of size and 

 colouring, and harmonise with the splendid birds and gor- 

 geous flowers of the lands that enjoy an endless summer. 



South Africa is not very abundantly supplied with Butter- 

 flies, but it produces a considerable number of species pecu- 

 liar to itself, and many of them of remarkable beauty. 

 The South-Eastern portion appears to be far richer in 

 Rhopalocera than the rest of the country, especially the 

 Natal region, where many species formerly held to be pecu- 

 liar to the Tropics are found in abundance. It is a 

 remarkable fact, too, that these tropical forms found at 

 Natal, in 30° S. latitude, are mostly identical with those 

 inhabiting Sierra Leone, in 8° 30' N. latitude, more than 

 2,500 miles distant. 



In our remarks upon the South African Butterflies, how- 

 ever, it must be borne in mind how very few spots have been 

 searched, and how partially those few have been investigated, 

 by collectors of insects. Travellers have picked up a chance 

 specimen or two here and there as they journeyed ; but, with 

 the exception of Cape Town and its immediate vicinity, the 

 neighbourhood of Port Natal, and the Knysna district 

 (which latter I collected in for nine months), I know of no 

 localities that have been "worked" for their Entomological 

 treasures.* We may then, I think, safely conclude that a 

 large number of species yet remain to be discovered in the 

 deep kloofs, the ancient forests, and the lofty mountains of 

 Southern Africa. The " Karroo," too, offers a hitherto un- 

 tried fleld for the Lepidopterist ; and though I do not 

 imagine any large number of Butterflies inhabit that barren 

 region, I have no doubt that there are species peculiar to so 

 remarkable a tract of country. 



The South African Rhopalocera, as at present known, 

 are contained in the ten following families, viz. : Papilionidce, 

 Pieridce, Danaidce, Acroeidce, Nymphalidce, Satyrida^, Eury- 

 ielidce, Erycinidcs, Lyccenidce, and Hespej'idcs. Representa- 



* Since these remarks were written, British Kaffraria (particukrly the 

 vicinity of King William's Town) has yielded a ricb harvest of Eutomo- 

 logical treasures to the exertions of my friend W. S. M. D'Urban, Esq., au 

 energetic and careful naturalist. 



