8 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



when it goes off with the speed of a Charaxes. P. Boisdnvalii 

 was very common during the first half of this year, although it is 

 sometimes a very scarce insect. Colonel Bowker informs me 

 that until this season he had only met with four specimens in 

 thirty years. 



It is not my intention to refer to the Natal butterflies in 

 detail, but whilst I have pen in hand I may mention a few 

 incidents that may be interesting to entomologists at home. 



The early part of the present year (1881) was very prolific in 

 the genus Charaxes, since I met with nine different species of 

 this genus. Two of them, Charaxes Saturmis and C. Druceanus, 

 are of very rare occurrence in this part of Africa ; they are both 

 exceedingly handsome insects, the former being bright red- 

 brown, the latter dark red-brown. Another species, generally 

 rare, appeared in considerable plenty, viz. C. Candioije, already 

 referred to by Mr. Gooch. I captured about fifty specimens of 

 this large and handsome species, and about the same number of 

 the Natal variety of C. Xiphares {C. CitJiceron). These species 

 were taken by supplementing the exudations from gum-acacias 

 and Mimosas with a strong decoction of " sugar." They were 

 taken at various places along the coast, so I imagine their 

 abundance during the past season to have been general ; and as 

 late as July I found them flying in woods on the Zululand 

 border. C. Brutus was even commoner than the two species just 

 mentioned, as a glance at the long rows in my boxes informs me. 



It is very interesting to observe the different "forms" 

 species assume in this country through variations of temperature 

 and other causes. Papilio Pylades but rarely appears in the 

 winter, but I captured a solitary specimen during my July trip 

 to the Zulu border that differed very considerably from the 

 ordinary summer forms. The rare Lachnoptera Agresii, which 

 occurs at the Inanda and on the Zulu border, possesses certain 

 distinctive marks of difference, the Inanda specimens being 

 brighter than the two individuals taken in the latter locality. I 

 cannot agree with Mr. Gooch in thinking that this insect is 

 commoner than it seems, for in my anxiety to obtain a fine 

 cabinet series I have not passed many Atella Phalanta without 

 most carefully noting them. 



I certainly do agree with Mr. Gooch in thinking that 

 Diadema dubia, mima and Anthedou are plastic forms of one 



