114 



The Naturalist. 



Nymphalid(s), Vliilognoma Varanes (seen several times, not captured), 

 Loxura alcides, Zeritis Alpliaeus (one, an immense fly, considerably 

 larger than Trimen's limit, lin. lO^lin.), LyccBua celaens, Zeritis Thy she, 

 Z. Thyra, Pyrgus elma^ and Nisoniades Djaelaelae. 



Half a day in the Perie bush gave me Debis dendropJiiliis, Pieris 

 agatJiina^ Papilio Merope, Pyrameis Jiippomene, '''"Atella plialanta (our 

 solitary fritillary), Nisoniades Kobela, and Lycoena Belegorgui. My local 

 list is not very grand, and might be largely augmented if I recorded 

 observations. Many of the Pieridoe fly in tantalising manner before 

 the collector, and then dash forward over the prickly bush. At 

 Uitenhage many species occur, although strangers to Port Elizabeth. 

 Floral life, both natural and imported, is much stronger there — hence 

 the contrast. 



When I lived there about eighteen months ago, the gardens bore 

 every appearance of neglect, and weeds monopolised the fertile soil. 

 Fennel grew rank and proved a capital recreation ground for all sorts 

 of insects. Wild creepers stretched aloft their pliable arm.s in 

 competitive haste to reach the summits where they bloomed, 

 and whilst the leaves inveigled larval appetites, the blossoms 

 tempted insect tongues and insect jaws. Yv^here nectar, juicy 

 essence is, are winged gluttons. Where big dinners locate 

 chameleons are certainties. I counted forty-seven of these un- 

 gainly body-snatchers on a quince hedge bordering my garden, one 

 evening when I was busy mothing. The reptiles totally ignored the 

 near approach of lighted wick. Their faculty of changing hue is yet 

 unexplained. Their peculiarity of moving the eyes independently of 

 one another is striking. The chameleon is a sluggard and a fool, but 

 not such a fool as he looks. Does it not pay him to be torpid ] To 

 what law of nature does his colour-change respond '? Is it a protective 

 instinct prompting 1 I cannot quite accept such an hypothesis, but 

 should prefer the idea that a rapid and metamorphic assumption mis- 

 leads his prey. He caimot or will not hasten his movements, and 

 trusts principally to the dexterity of his tongue, which, likely as not, 

 may ' miss its shot.' I have lost, but lost awhile ! I shall now turn 

 strategist ! Let me become for the nonce another creature and assimi- 

 late ! But how % By change of form 1 That is impossible ! By change 

 of colour ? Ah ! I have hit the mark ! Eureka ! See ! the fly deceived 

 returns to its haunt. Slick glides chameleon's tongue, and slick Mons. 

 Dipteron glides down, down, down, into the remote regions of reptilian 

 digestion. Is my theory far fetched ? Then dont accept it with 

 scientific gusto 



(To he continued.) 

 *- Mr. Rous, I beheve, took one in Burmah. 



