SOUTHERN AFRICA.— FISHES. — INSECTS. 109 
lovely birds the glory of African ornithology: nor 
must the honey-guides (Jndicator) be omitted ; those 
extraordinary guides to man in the discovery of the 
nests of the African bees. ‘The numerous grosbeaks 
(Amadina Sw.) and weavers (Ploceus Cuv.) form a 
gay and interesting part of this order; the latter being 
chiefly found towards the equinoctial line, while the 
former appear more numerous in the Cape territories : 
both genera, however, extend to India ; and there is a 
beautiful species of Amadina in New Holland. The 
republican grosbeak, famous for its social habits in 
living and building in large communities, belongs also 
to this genus. On the water birds our information is 
very defective ; but we do not, at this moment, recollect 
any genus which exclusively belongs to the southern 
coast. 
(155.) Regarding the ichthyology, the following ob- 
servation of Mr. Burchell is peculiarly valuable, since 
it indicates a marked difference in the distribution of 
certain freshwater species. ‘ Eels,” observes this scientific 
traveller, ‘‘ are only found in those rivers which lie east- 
ward of the Cape, while the Gariep silurus (S. Garie- 
pinus, fig. 50.) is equally restricted to those on the 
western side.” This department of zoology, however, 
has been so totally neglected, that neither on this or any 
other occasion can we collect. any thing satisfactory on 
the natural distribution of the groups. The reptiles of 
Southern Africa are, if possible, still more imperfectly 
known than the fish. 
(156.) The insects of the virgin forests towards 
Algoa Bay, and no doubt through the whole extent of 
that coast, are stated to be in great variety. They 
yield, however, both in number and beauty, to those of 
Western Africa; and few species among the Lepidoptera 
