( li ) 



The great preponderance of P. vidua is noticeable, as is also 

 the generally good condition of most of the specimens making 

 up the somewhat significant figure of the total." 



In answer to questions, Dr. Dixby said that he had no 

 further information from Mr. Wiggins than that which he 

 had already given. He should be disposed to infer from the 

 words, "caught in one sweep of the net over a pool," that 

 the butterflies were disturbed while drinking, and the net 

 dashed among them just as they were taking wing.* 



Professor E. B. Poulton, F.R.S., communicated some notes 

 on Natal butterflies which he had received from Mr, Geo. H. 

 Bui-n, of Weenen. This naturalist, writing January 19, 1905, 

 stated that he had that week returned from a trip down the 

 Tugela Valley, during which he had spent about ten days in 

 the valley of its tributary, the Umhlangane River, about 

 thirty-five miles from Weenen. " While there," he wrote, " I 

 obtained many good specimens, amongst others, lolaus pallene, 

 aphriceoides, 6oi«/.'e?'i and sidus; Aphnxus [Spindasis^ niasilikazi, 

 ella, phanes and \Choroselas\ 2^^^'^^dozerit'is ; Ccenyra hebe and 

 Axiocerces anianga. I was particulai'ly pleased to get aphnasoides, 

 which is very rare. About ten years ago I captured a few 

 about thirty miles higher up the Tugela. This is the first time 

 I have seen C. hebe in life. I fancy it must be very local. All 

 the species I have mentioned, and many other butterflies, were 

 taken off the flowers of the Umchechau tree or shrub, grow- 

 ing along the banks of the spruit. These flowers seem to 

 attract insects of all descriptions, as well as butterflies and 

 moths. Among Coleoptera, the Lycidse were very numerous 

 on it. The flowers of the Umandane tree similarly attract all 

 sorts of insects in this neighbourhood during September and 

 October. Aphnxoides would seem to differ from others of its 

 group, inasmuch as it appears always to settle on a flower 



* The following passages show the possibility of such an explanation : — 

 "Large numbers of white butterflies may be seen quenching their thirst 

 on the damp ground, and flying up when distiu-bed, in quite a startling 

 cloud " (MS. note by Dr. Thwaites in Moore's " Lepidojjtera of Ceylon," vol. 

 I, 1880-81, p. 117). Mr. E. L. Arnold (quoted in Distant, loc. cit.) de- 

 scribes a " countless host of thirsty butterflies, collected from the forest 

 all round to drink .... crowded so close by the water that the sand 

 could scarcely be seen," and when disturbed, " springing into the air in 

 a huge cloud." [F. A. D.] 



