310 Drs. Dixey and Longstaff’s Observations 
we took in the garden of the Mount Nelson Hotel, on 
narcissus flowers, a few honey-bees, Apis mellifica, Linn., 
of the somewhat brighter race adansonii, Latr., that is 
common throughout South Africa, and with them their 
familiar mimic Hristalis tenax, Fabr. An Hmpis was also 
common in the garden.* 
The country had all the appearance of early spring, and 
it was evident enough that we were much too early for 
good sport. Below the Lion’s Head, by a little stream 
perhaps 200 feet above sea-level, we took two specimens 
of the brownish Lyceenid Cacyreus palemon, Cram., quite 
unlike any “Blue” that either of us had previously seen 
alive; these and a Skipper that eluded us at Camps Bay 
were the only butterflies we saw that day. 
Turning over stones proved disappointing; besides 
sundry scorpions and myriapods the chief tenants were 
ants, a larger yellowish species, Camponotus maculatus, 
Fabr., and a smaller black species, Acantholepsis capensis, 
Meyr. With the ants were a few beetles, such as two 
specimens of Mormicomus ceruleus, an Anthiid, Microlestia 
tabida, Fabr., another beetle not yet determined, and two 
larvee of a Lampyris. 
Along with the beetles were sundry cockroaches, crea- 
tures we were afterwards to find numerous; among them 
were two Deropeltis juncea, Sauss., and immature examples 
of Blatta orientalis, Linn. 
The best harbour for insects appeared to be a species of 
Solanum, a medium-sized, prickly shrub bearing numerous 
seed-capsules. On this plant the red Lady-bird Chilomenes 
lunata, Fabr., was abundant, also a black species, Chilocorus 
sp., unrepresented in the National Collection, was fairly 
common. Several other Lady-bird-like beetles, as yet 
undetermined, were found on the same plant, as well as 
one specimen of Lpilachna hivta, Thunb, (the sole phyto- 
phagous genus in a family otherwise carnivorous). On 
the leaves were also two examples of the tiny Abacetus 
minutus, De}. 
A dark-green, scarlet-striped bug, Lygevus festivus, Thunb., 
accompanied the Lady-birds, while immature specimens of 
* The original idea was to allude to every insect seen by usin our 
rush through South Africa, but at the time of going to press many 
species, especially among the Orthoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera- 
Heterocera, were still undetermined, and so for the most part are not 
mentioned. 
