BUTTERFLY HUNTING IN NATAL. 63 



and leathern gaiters and strong boots, being the most striking 

 features. The former to protect one from the scorching 

 heat, which the day promises ; the latter, from the attacks of 

 snakes, which although seldom seen are sufficiently numerous to 

 make incautious movement, such as butterfly catching requires, 

 a dangerous exercise, unless the lower limbs be well protected. 

 Usually the sea breeze, which begins to blow about 10, is some- 

 what of a hurricane ; but this morning there is only enough of it 

 to make the insects more numerous in sheltered spots, and so 

 facilitate our work instead of rendering it a labour. The ladies 

 promise to meet us unless there is a thunderstorm coming 

 up, which they will know before the cart starts, as thunder- 

 storms, unlike anything else colonial, are punctual, and can 

 always be seen approaching from the east by 2 p.m., if they 

 intend to come at all. 



Our party — self, veteran, and three boys (one a coolie, the 

 others Kaffirs) — leaving the house, which stands on the slope of 

 a hill, follow one of our paths to a " break-wind" of natural bush, 

 along the leeward edge of which I shall work my way up to a 

 favourite corner, where certain things, if about at all, are sure to 

 be found. Along the double row of orange trees we pass, but do 

 not halt, although Pajnlio Demoleus, P. Nireus, and P. Leonidas 

 are frequent ; the two former are evidently egg-depositing : the 

 veteran has already strolled along this in the morning and summed 

 it up. As we reach the corner of the " break-wind," Acrcea Cynthia, 

 Eurytela Hiarbas, and Junonia Clelia are all found hovering 

 about, and several good specimens are at once taken. A. Cynthia 

 is in great numbers, fluttering and hanging settled on dead 

 branches, and apparently, from the look of the specimens taken, 

 only emerged from pupee this morning, and all of one family. 

 Those in copula are captured and noted. E. Hiarbas, with its 

 short pendulum flight, oscillating round a mass of creeper, on 

 which its larvae no doubt may be found ; although beating for a 

 minute or two does not yield us any of them, but a good supply 

 of ants, bugs, and spiders, whose powers of " making tracks," when 

 they find themselves on the beating-net, are simply marvellous. 

 A Curculio or two who lie, oppositely inclined, curled up stark, 

 stiff and inanimate, in their peculiar fashion. Whilst we are 

 beating, P. Merope first comes into view, and is unerringly taken 

 by the veteran ; his condition being doubtful, and as we know where 



