324 Drs. Dixey and Longstaff’s Odservations 
Three species of Diptera were met with: Hristalis teniops, 
Wied. ; Syrphus xgyptius, Wied.; and Sarcophaga sp. 
A solitary Pentatomid bug, Agonoscelis versicolor, Fabr., 
was taken. 
Of dragon-flies we took one of a species not yet de- 
termined, and two that would appear to be Orthetrwm 
Jasciolatum, Ramb. 
In approaching Durban from the sea one first sights 
THE BuurFr, a ridge of high ground separating the harbour 
from the Indian Ocean. Access is obtained on the land- 
ward side by a steep path, the resort of many butterflies, 
being protected from the sea winds and lying fully open to 
the sun. It is at first hard to realize that south of the 
Equator hill-sides with northern aspects are the most 
likely hunting grounds for butterflies. At the eastern 
extremity, near the lighthouse, the Bluff is more or less 
bare ; but the path towards the west soon leads into the 
scrub, or natural forest, of mixed growth with a scarcely 
penetrable undergrowth of the coarse Acanthaceous plant 
called by the natives “u-Bomaan.” Through the scrub 
there has been cut a very wide road, grass-covered, which 
keeping parallel to the coast, runs up hill and down dale for 
at least a couple of miles, how much further we had not time 
to investigate. This road with its occasional glimpses of 
the sea, perhaps 150 or 200 feet below, afforded the most 
delightful collecting ground imaginable. One was con- 
stantly reminded of ridings through woods in Southern 
England, but rudely brought back by catching the net in 
the well-concealed thorns of the familiar “ fern-asparagus ” 
of our hot-houses and dinner-tables [Asparagus ? plumosus], 
or by a glimpse of the dusky form of a cryptically-coloured 
Kaftir in the gloomy shadow of the forest. But every- 
thing has its drawbacks; that of the Bluff was climatic, 
for all too soon after mid-day, on both our visits, the south- 
east Trade-wind freshened and great clouds rolling up from 
the Indian Ocean sent all well-regulated butterflies to bed. 
Limnas chrysippus, Linn., was very common, especially 
towards the more civilized end of the road. Planema 
esebria, Hew. (curiously enough the only species of the 
Acrzine group that we saw there), has a flight of moderate 
rapidity, but two were easily caught. Several Atella 
phalanta, Dru., were seen and a few netted. Precis was 
represented by a single clelia, Cram. 
