EXPLORATIONS IN CAPE REGION. 761 



or hiding places to feed on the tender leaves of the new 

 vegetation. But, as there is a great irregularity, both in 

 the quantity of the rainfall as well as in the time when it 

 commences, so is there considerable variation in the com- 

 mencement of this exuberance of animal life. It may 

 begin in July, but it may not begin until September. I 

 have seen so many butterflies filling the air in one of the 

 high valleys of the Sierra El Taste that the air seemed 

 thick with them, and this continued for several weeks. 

 When at such a time a cloud over the sun caused a tem- 

 porary shadow, this immense and innumerable host of 

 butterflies suddenly vanished, having taken refuge on the 

 under side of the leaves of trees, bushes and herbs. 

 When in an hour the sun again shone out in all its warmth 

 and brightness, the butterflies all at once left their hiding 

 places and again filled the air. One day, when I climbed 

 the El Taste peak, I beheld just such a wondrous sight. 

 The whole valley between El Taste and Mt. Troyer was 

 filled to a height of 3000 feet, or from the bottom of the 

 valley to the top of the peaks, and several miles in width, 

 with butterflies in almost every color of the rainbow, but 

 principally white and yello^y. As I sat there gazing at 

 this marvelous spectacle, suddenly a cloud overshadowed 

 the sun. In fifteen minutes the butterflies were gone, 

 the air was clear; but when in an hour the sun came out 

 bright and warm, the butterflies also came out in almost 

 as large quantity as before. Such days and nights must 

 be used without rest by the naturalist, as they may vanish 

 very soon. Thus our principal collectings of beetles and 

 other insects was done in a week's time. The second 

 shower of rain spoiled everything. After a rainstorm of 

 four or five hours duration, we were astonished to find 

 that there were scarcely any insects left of any kind. 

 Butterflies, beetles, moths, wasps, almost every kind had 



2d Ser., Vol. V. ( 49 ) October 30, 1895. 



