1885.] Forest Trees in South Africa. 25 



the innumerable minute Scolyti, for instance, and only radical 

 measures, from the very beginning of the supervision of our forests 

 by the officers of the Department, may partially eradicate the evil. 

 We have the results of the same measures carried out in other countries, 

 and I will not dwell on- their efficacy, more or less ascertained. ^ 



The object of this paper, which I do not in any wise deem scientific, 

 is simply to call your attention to the number and varieties of insects 

 injurious to Forest trees, and also to ask for some information on the 

 life-habit of those insects. 



As I have said before, • nothing is known on that subject, and 

 what is needed is : true and reliable observations in different 

 parts of the country. One man alone cannot do much. I cannot, 

 for the present, at least, visit those districts where forests are 

 found, but I would gladly make out, to the best of my abilities, those 

 species which would be sent to me for that purpose, and keep due 

 record of the observations which my correspondents would favour 

 me with. 



And then, I hope, that by manifold researches of that kind, we 

 will be able, in time, to know the name and be acquainted with the 

 life-history of those insects that are prejudicial to a certain given tree, 

 as is now the case in European Countries and in the United States 

 of America. 



EXHIBITS. 



Three drawers of Beetles. 



One box of Bombycidae. 



One box containing Ledo Venus and Cossus. 



One piece of Ebony Wood. 



Two showing the galleries of Ledo Venus. 



One box containing Alaus moerens. 



Larva of P Alaus moerens. 



AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ISOBAEIO INFLUENCES 

 AND CYCLONIC PATHS OF SOUTH AFEICA. 



By Adolph G-. Howard. — April, 1885. 



To THE President and Members of the South African Philo- 

 sophical Society. 



Gentlemen, — In placing before you the following investigations 

 into the Meteorology of South Africa, with my theories based thereon, 

 I do not wish to convey the idea that they are facts fully proved, 

 because such most decidedly is not the case. I wish them to be 

 understood as representing merely the chrysalis from which a fully 

 developed and practical law may ultimately be established, so that I 

 merely offer them as a basis on which others (or perhaps myself) 

 may erect a more useful superstructure. 



The reason which induced me to make meteorology a study in this 

 Colony, was the assertion of a friend of mine, soon after I arrived 

 here, to the effect that the barometer always rose with a south-east 



