160 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



their noise, they become absolutely silent when one approaches 

 the tree lately resonant with the efforts of the cicadan orchestra ; 

 but that is too late for protection. They have many enemies in 

 all parts of the world in which they are found, being not only 

 eaten by birds but attacked by such varied insects as Mantidae, 

 dragonflies and hornets, whilst, as remarked above, the beetle 

 (Manticora) can now be addedto the recorded list. They also fall a 

 prey to spiders, are attacked in the egg condition by larvae of ichneu- 

 mons, and are also sometimes afflicted by a fungoid growth. 



Further along the road our way lay across what to S. African 

 travellers is so well known as turf, and after prolonged wet this 

 remains in a terrible condition for vehicular traffic, though in other 

 parts the country may be baked and burnt up, as it was at this 

 time. Our faithful Zulu had to lead our horse, and did so cheer- 

 fully and uncomplaining for ten hours at a stretch. I provided him 

 with a bottle of " Cape smoke " as some sort of stimulant under 

 the strain, which he consumed and seemed none the worse for. 

 But when we reached the Hex Eiver, and John led our horse — an 

 animal with a strong dislike for fords — across it, he entered the 

 river on one side sober, and, dreadful and strange to relate, came 

 out the other side in a state of intoxication, the effects probably 

 of the lukewarm and swiftly-flowing water. With a demoralized 

 Zulu fastened to the back of our trap, we made an inglorious 

 entry into Bustenburg about 9 p.m. However, once at the 

 1 Masonic Hotel,' a good supper soon put us to rights, while our 

 faithful servitor speedily became again clothed and in his right 

 mind. 



The next morning we were joined by our good friend Ayres, 

 who acted as our guide during the stay, and whose acquaintance 

 with the lives and habits of the living creatures that frequented 

 the country around was equal to the combined knowledge of a 

 field-naturalist and a sportsman. 



We had arrived at a bad time. No rain had fallen for some 

 weeks, and the country was parched up. Birds were practically 

 absent, and so we decided to try and find the good things of the 

 place. 



Bustenburg is famous for some fine beetles, and we made long 

 excursions in search of a few rare species. In the Cetoniidaa the 

 pride of place centres in Goliathus albosignatus. This beetle is 



