214 [February, 



has suddenly begun. Not only are flies buzzing about you, but active 

 SesperiidcB (tbe last of butterflies to retire to rest, and the earliest to 

 rise),are darting about the sun-lit leaves of the mango and orange trees. 

 As you watch one of these " skippers," which is conspicuous from its 

 size and white markings, you are surprised to find him abruptly disap- 

 pear. You watch for a little, and he is about again in a wonderful 

 bustle, but only to vanish as mysteriously as before. On this occasion 

 you mark the exact leaf on which he seemed to settle for an instant . 

 when you are close to it, you see the leaf quiver a little, — there is 

 something underneath it : — you stoop to look, and there is the butter 

 fly clinging to the underside of the leaf, with all his wings expanded 

 as neatly as those of one in your cabinet.* This is no freak of an 

 individual, for you soon observe several others conducting themselves 

 in precisely the same manner. And now the Pierid(S begin to appear ; 

 first the white and yellow Pieris Agathina, and, soon after, P. Severina ; 

 and these, with an occasional Danais Echeria floating about, hold the 

 ground till the forenoon is well advanced. Then a grand outburst of 

 Lepidoptera takes place, quite bewildering one with their number and 

 variety, but chiefly belonging to the PieridcB. Among the herbage 

 numerous bright yellow Terias are slowly flitting, the more active 

 species of Fieris and beautiful red-tipped AntJwcharis, pursue each 

 other about the flowers, while swift white or yellow Callidryades and 

 EronicB hurry past like meteors. The Nymjplialidce are tolerably 

 numerous in species, though not in individuals ; four Junoniw, two 

 Diademce, Eunica Natalensis, and an occasional rapid Nymphalis or 

 Philognoma contributing to swell the Rhopalocerous gathering ; while 

 numerous LyccenidcB, perched on the blossoms, or chasing each other 

 in the air, add their colour and life to the scene. Nor are butterflies 

 alone conspicuous ; several day-flying moths, more than rivalling them 

 in brilliancy, are whirring through the clear air, or busily rifling the 

 nectaries of flowers ; the most striking being the large, glittering 

 " Burnet," Glaucopsis formosa, and the splendid Egyholia Vaillantiana, 

 shot with metallic green and purple, and barred with intense orange. 



You are struck with the scarcity of active Coleopterous life at this 

 season ; though, as will be seen hereafter, at a later period of the year 

 there is no ground for complaint in this respect. At present, the 

 smaller GetoniidcB principally attract notice, with their heads buried 

 among the florets of composite flowers. You must dig among decaying 

 wood, if you would see the larger members of the Lucanidos, Elateridce, 

 and other forest-loving beetles. 



* This habit, even more than their rapid — but much-interrupted — flight, must be of great service 

 ■ to the numerous 7/e«periM/« that exhibit it, in enabling them to escape from pursuing or observant 

 enemies. It is only constant among those that carry all the wings fully expanded when settled, and 

 which are thus most liable to attract notice. — R. T. 



