li, lit] (15) 
the butterflies were disturbed while drinking, and the net 
dashed among them just as they were taking wing.* 
Professor E. B. Poutron, F.R.S., communicated some notes 
on Natal butterflies which he had received from Mr. Geo. H. 
Burn, 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, Jolaws pallene, 
aphnexoides, bowkeri and sidus; Aphneus [Spindasis| masilikazi, 
ella, phanes and [ Choroselas | pseudozeritis ; Canyra hebe and 
Aziocerces amanga. Iwas particularly pleased to get aphneoides, 
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 (. 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 Lycid# were very numerous 
on it. The flowers of the Umandane tree similarly attract all 
sorts of insects in this neighbourhood during September and 
October. Aphnzxoides would seem to differ from others of its 
group, inasmuch as it appears always to settle on a flower 
in the middle and most inaccessible part of the bush, whereas 
pallene and other species apparently prefer the outer branches. 
“T am inclined to think, from a good many years of observ- 
ation, that the anal appendages (at any rate in the case of the 
Tolaus and Aphnzus groups) of many butterflies are intended 
to deceive their enemies by resembling antenne. I have 
repeatedly come across fresh specimens with that part of the 
* 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 disturbed, in quite a startling 
cloud ” (MS. note by Dr. Thwaites in Moore’s “‘ Lepidoptera 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.] 
