PREFACE. ix 



farmer, and a few high officials do not adequately re- 

 present the characteristics of what let alone would 

 have formed a distinct race of Dutch people. I hope I 

 have been fair with these emigrant farmers, whom I really 

 respect, but it is difficult to steer clear of both Boer 

 and British prejudice: the first resents any criticism, 

 the second criticises in a too sweeping and trenchant 

 manner. 



In an Appendix I have given an enumeration of my 

 zoological collections, which were much assisted by an 

 old and valued servant, Timothy Donovan, who accom- 

 panied me to the Transvaal. The proportion of new 

 species is perhaps as high as might have been expected 

 from the number of specimens collected, which may 

 provide the material by which to commence a tabulation 

 of the fauna of the Pretoria District, and also show 

 that even a busy man, during his leisure hours, may 

 do some not altogether useless biological work. 



The lamented death of my friend, Mr. H. W. Bates, 

 as these pages were passing through the press, adds a 

 melancholy reflection to the obligations I am under, 

 for his reading of my proofs with valuable suggestions. 

 These were probably the last of the many friendly 

 offices he undertook to aid his favourite study and to 

 oblige his friends. 



To the specialist friends who have aided me in 

 working out my collections I render my best thanks, 

 and have individually acknowledged their kind help 

 when enumerating the different Orders in the Appendix. 

 My travelling companion, Mr. Henry Blackwell, Jun., 



