38 



NA TURE 



IMay 12, 1 88 



the northern limit of this journey. It is the capital of the 

 Eastern Bamangwatos, and the most important town in 

 any of the independent native kingdoms in the interior of 

 South Africa. It lies on the River Shoshon. The king's 

 residence was built around the Kotla ; the place has a 

 circular space inclosed by a fence of strong stakes, the 

 entrance being on the south side, opposite to which was 

 an opening leading to another smaller inclosure, which 

 was the king's cattle kraal, where his farm stock was 

 kept at night, the horses being accommodated in the 



Kotla itself. Every night the entrances are made secure 

 with stakes. Fig. 3 shows the king's kotla at Shoshong. 



According to the missionary's (Mr. Mackenzie's) esti- 

 mate. King Sekhomo's actual revenue was equivalent to 

 about 3000/. a year, and consisted of cattle, ivory, ostrich- 

 feathers, and skins ; he had — happy man ! — no state 

 expenditure whatever. Dr. Holub's second expedition 

 ended on April 7, when he arrived in safety with his large 

 collections at Dutoitspan. 



(.To be continued.) 



THE NEW INSECTARIUM IN 

 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S GARDENS 



ALTHOUGH of late years many entomologists have 

 been in the habit of rearing insects in captivity for 

 the purpose of watching their transformations and obtain- 

 ing good specimens in each stage of existence, nothing 

 like a systematic attempt, so far as we know, has been 

 made to form a general collection of living insects for 

 exhibition. As in former days as regards reptiles and 

 the lower marine animals, so in the present instance as 

 regards its insectarium, our Zoological Society seems to 

 be first in the field ; and so far as we can judge from the 

 progress already made, to be likely, if not altogether 

 successful, to attain many interesting and instructive 

 results. 



The building in the Regent's Park Gardens now used 

 as an insectarium is constructed of iron and glass 

 on three sides, with a brick bac'tc to it, and formerly 

 formed part of the refreshment buildings. It was moved 

 to its present site, on the north bank of the canal near 

 the north entrance, last autumn, and has been used 

 during the winter as a nursery for delicate monkeys and 

 tropical birds. The cases containing the insects, to which 

 it is now devoted, are arranged on stands all round the 

 building, and also occupy two tables in the centre. The 

 cases used for the principal specimens are formed of zinc 

 plates. The upper part of them is glazed on all four 

 sides, the top being formed of perforated zinc so as to 



admit the air. The food-plant or object required for the 

 suspension of the chrysalises, when that stage of the 

 insect is exhibited, is inserted into the case through a 

 circular hole in the bottom, but the glass front also 

 opens, so that ready access may be obtained to the 

 interior. The larger cases in the front row measure 

 about 24 inches in breadth by iS in depth, and are 32 

 inches in height. The cases in the opposite row are of 

 similar construction, but rather smaller in dimensions. 



The cases on the south side (on each side of the 

 entrance door) are mostly appropriated to the exhibition 

 of the larger and finer species of silk-producing moths of 

 the family Bombycidae. Amongst them may be specially 

 noticed Glover's Silk-moth {Saniia Glove?'!) and the Cer- 

 copian Silk-moth (.S". C(Yn)//(f) of North America, Perny's 

 Silk-moth {Attacus Pernyi) of Northern China, the 

 Tusseh Silk-moth {A. mylitta) of India, and the great 

 Emperor Moth {Satii?-nla pyi) of Europe. These have 

 been imported from their native countries in the stage of 

 chrysalis. Of the first three above named, many examples 

 are already hatched, and the splendid i?nagines, or per- 

 fect insects, are appearing one by one. Soon after 

 appearing the sexes unite and eggs are produced, after 

 which the parents quickly perish. The fertilised eggs 

 remain to produce caterpillars, which will eventually 

 form a second set of pupae or chrysalises and thus 

 continue the species. 



On the north side of the Insectarium the smaller cases 

 are devoted principally to the rarer and more noticeable 

 moths and butterflies of Europe, such as the Swallow- 

 tailed Butterfly {Papih'o machaoii), the Blick-veined 

 Butterfly {Aporia cratiegi), the Purple Emperor {Apatura 

 iris), and the Orange-tip {Antliocharis cardamines) 

 among the former, and the Scarlet Tiger Moth {Calii- 

 Diorplia doiiiim/la)a.\\di. Emperor Moth {Salmiiia carpini) 

 among the latter group. The series is continued, mixed 

 with other forms, at the east end of the building. On 

 the large tables in the middle of the Insectarium are 

 examples of other butterflies, moths, beetles, mayflies, 

 stoneflies, and aquatic insects of different kinds, all well 

 worthy of attention and study. The whole series ex- 

 hibited now contains examples of about fifty species, but 

 daily additions are made to it. 



Finally we should niention that every specimen in the 

 Insectarium is distinctly labelled, and that over each of 

 the principal cases is fixed a glazed box, in which are 

 placed preserved specimens of the various stages of 

 metamorphosis of the insect exhibited in the case beneath. 



Nor must we forget to add that the Insectarium is 

 under the sole charge of Mr. E. Watkins, an experienced 

 entomologist and breeder of insens, whose name is well 

 known to many naturalists. Mr. Watkins, whose ser- 

 vices have been secured for the Zoological Society for the 

 purpose of inaugurating this interesting e.xhibition, is in 

 daily attendance at the Insectarium, and is most read)- 

 and willing to afford information and instruction to all 

 who apply to him. 



NOTES 

 The numerous friends and still more numerous admirers of 

 Prof. Gegenbaur will be glad to hear that he is now believed to 

 be out of danger. It appears that the illness of the distinguished 

 anatomist commenced with an attack of erysipela?, the origin of 

 which is not known ; it does not seem that the case was com- 

 plicated by any blood poisoning, but there was an attack of 

 peritonitis, which caused the very greatest anxiety for some 

 days. Lately however his condition has considerably improved, 

 but it will, of course, be a long time before he can be completely 

 restored to health. 



At the conversazioni given to Prof. Helmholtz at Univer- 

 sity College, Mr. Latimer Clark exhibited the accompanying 



