240 [October, :1898. 



have a lovely green shade over the fore-wings when freshly emerged ; 

 when older they are more of a drab-brown." This insect when it 

 arrives here is rarely other than olive-brown, but in one or two of the 

 freshest specimens the green is still visible. 



The range of this species seems to be severely limited, in that 

 respect showing a strong contrast to the closely allied D. livornica, 

 Esp., and ChceroGampa celerio, L., both of which are common South 

 African species. On the other hand G. nerii, L., and G. j^son, Cram., 

 seem to be rare. Another widely distributed species, not too common 

 in that district, is Sphinx convolvuli, L. ; and Acherontia Atropos, L., 

 is as usual in ill repute with bee keepers ; and not only with them, for 

 the " bite " of the poor harmless creatures is there believed to be 

 poisonous ! 



SphingomorpJia Monteironis,3utler.' — My correspondent speaks of 

 this as the " fruit moth," and says that there is a legend that it damages 

 the fruit, but in what way does not seem clear. It is a grand creature, 

 in some degree allied to the Plusice, but of more than double the size 

 of almost any of them, the fore-wings sienna-brown marbled with 

 black, the transverse lines black, angulated and looped to a great 

 degree, the thorax and abdomen dark brown, but with a dividing pale 

 yellow stripe commencing on the head and ending at one of the hinder 

 segments of the abdomen. But its most extraordinary ornament is an 

 enormous tuft of yellow hair-scales upon the under-side of the fore 

 tibiae of the male, spreading out like a fan when the leg is drawn 

 forward, and almost as long as the portion of the leg to which it is 

 attached. 



Metaclirostis nigrivitta, Hampson. — " You can shake these out of 

 the cypress trees at aiay time ; they hide during the day always on 

 these trees, but they fly by choice at dusk." This is one of a group 

 of small broad winged Noctuce which is very fully represented in 

 South Africa. Its attachment to the cypress appeared to me to be 

 rather curious, but a portion of the tree sent with a dozen of the 

 moths seemed convincing. 



Cerocala vermicidosa, H.-S. — " One of the little boys caught this 

 on the ground in the open veldt in bright sunshine." This beautiful 

 moth, something like the European G. scapulosa, Hb., but having 

 handsomer and more elaborate markings, does not seem a likely species 

 to seek the sunshine. Perhaps it was hiding upon the ground. 



Osfeodes turhulentata, Gn. — " This moth is very common upon our 

 side of Middle Drift. I do not remember to have seen it at the other. 



