102 Dr. G. B. Longstaff on 



the same, or nearly the same place. It settles on 

 the ground, or on a low plant, nearly always turning 

 its back to the sun, and often closing its wings over 

 its back. I saw one settle at right angles to the 

 sun, casting a broad shadow ; but as there happened 

 to be several objects close by casting similar shadows, 

 it was not very conspicuous. Presently the same 

 individual flew up and settled down again, this time 

 on a bare piece of earth and Avith its back to the 

 sun in the usual way. 

 Another note, also relating to Sydenham, is : — 



F. clelia seen to settle, and then rapidly turn its back 



to the sun; it did not close its wings. P. dclia 



seen here seems always to turn its back to the 



sun. 



To Dr. Dixey's description I would add that the wings 



are usually about three-fourths expanded, nearly as with 



Vanessa atalanta, L., at home. One specimen was observed 



to settle with tail to the sun five consecutive times. It 



was only occasionally that I saw them close their wings 



over their backs, when the shadow was reduced to a 



minimum, but I did observe this several times, both in 



the neighbourhood of Durban and at the Victoria Falls. 



As a rule P. dclia seemed to pitch correctly, but now and 



then it was seen to adjust itself. 



Precis crehrcnc, Trim., is another common and widely- 

 distributed South African butterfly. Though very dif- 

 ferently coloured from P. dclia, it is nearly, though not 

 quite, as conspicuous when the upper-side is displayed, but 

 the almost uniformly clay-coloured under-side is scarcely 

 distinguishable ogainst certain back-grounds, such as sand, 

 clay, or rock of a grey or yellow tint. It is fond of 

 frequenting dry " spruits," or watercourses, settling on the 

 rocks or boulders, but in the Zambesi country Dr. Dixey 

 often saw it settle in trees. It was repeatedly observed to 

 orient itself fairly accurately, but did not appear to close 

 its wings as often as P. ddia. A note made by me at 

 Ladysmith, August 26th, says : — • 



Oriented within about 10°-15° ; settled often upon 

 cliffs of yellow sand or mud on which it was 

 moderately conspicuous. One specimen was re- 

 peatedly observed to close its wings, its shadow 

 was then near the minimum and the insect 

 inconspicuous. 



