THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE FOREST 151 



found about Knysna which attracted attention was one 

 of the beautiful Leaf Butterflies. On the wing these 

 butterflies showed a considerable amount of purple as 

 they flew past, though as a rule they kept well out of 

 reach, and seldom came very near the ground. These 

 Leaf Butterflies took very good care where they settled, 

 and I never saw them choose any resting-place except a 

 tree which was, I think, one of the white pear trees, and 

 had leaves of autumn tints ; here these butterflies would 

 alight, melting at once into the foliage of the tree, and 

 there defying detection. A shake of the branch would 

 cause the apparent phenomenon of some of the leaves 

 of the tree falling to the ground, while others fluttered 

 upwards, to settle again on the higher branches of the 

 tree. 



The subject of protective colouring, perhaps one of 

 the most fascinating studies of natural history, reminds 

 me of the Nightjar. The edge of the forest around 

 Knysna seemed to be well suited to the habits of these 

 birds, and yet I do not think we saw one during our 

 stay. Had there been many about we must certainly 

 have heard them in the evenings ; possibly their breed- 

 ing time may be very late in the season, as it is with 

 us at home, and they might not have arrived at 

 Knysna before we left. The commonest Nightjar in 

 the Colony appears to be the South African Nightjar, 

 a bird similar in many respects to the European Night- 

 jar, with which we are familiar at home, but rather 

 smaller. The latter bird is also a visitant to South 

 Africa, and has been procured, I believe, at Knysna. 



The well-known note of the Nightjar is familiar in 

 June to many people in England who live in those 



