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XIX. On the variation q/Rhopalocerousyb?*???*' in South 

 Africa. By J. P. Mansel Weale, B.A., Oxon. 



[Read July 4th, 1877.] 



These notes must he prefaced by the remark that my 

 knowledge of Entomology and Botany has been prin- 

 cipally derived from personal study of South African 

 forms in the field, with such assistance as I could procure 

 from a limited library and correspondence. The state- 

 ments made are for the most part statements of observed 

 facts carefully studied on the spot, and illustrated by 

 specimens entirely of my own collection and by drawings 

 from nature. Whenever deductions are made I shall be 

 carefril to distinguish these, and wiU give the reasons upon 

 which they are based. 



Having ti-avelled over a considerable portion of the 

 eastern districts of the Cape Colony and the Free State, 

 and having resided during several years in three distinct 

 localities, viz.. Port Elizabeth, Bedford, and near King 

 Williamstown, I have had the advantage of personally 

 noting the physical peculiarities of these districts in par- 

 ticular, and their general relation to the country adjoining. 



If hitherto the course of study has been in my case 

 discursive and superficial rather than special, I feel that 

 in hereafter thoroughly working out and investigating any 

 group I shall possess a wider grasp of the intercalating 

 conditions modifying the units Avhich compose it, than 

 can an ex- African specialist, who has been unable to note 

 the difficult and complicated relations between the climate, 

 soil, flora and insect fauna of South Africa. 



I have been struck, in some cases, Avith the close inter- 

 dependence between variations of insects and variations in 

 the flora, which I believe to be due largely to modifications 

 of the latter by climate and soil. For instance, Acacia 

 liorrida has a very extensive range, being found along the 

 watercourses of the most arid inland districts, and also 

 being spread Avidely over the moister grass lands of the 

 coast. Of all native shrubs it is probably the richest 

 habitat of insect life of almost all the orders. It varies 

 not merely in general appearance and growth, but also in 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1877. — PART III. (OCT.) T 



