PEEFACE. ix 
Natal, my opportunities for personally collecting and observiDg 
have only extended to the unproductive "Western Districts within 
150 miles of Cape Town. This unfavourable limitation of my 
own field-work has, however, been very largely counterbalanced 
by the abundant material which Las always been placed at my 
disposal by the activity and liberality of my numerous corre- 
spondents in different parts of South Africa. 
At the head of these generous helpers in my work stands 
my friend Colonel James Henry Bowker, to whose energy and 
observant powers as a naturalist I owe the greater part of my 
acquaintance with the rarer Lepidoptera of the country. As 
long ago as 1866 I had the pleasure of recording how largely 
he had contributed to my former work ; and my indebtedness 
to his generous aid has, I am happy to say, steadily increased 
ever since. 
Colonel Bowker's debut as a votary of entomology took 
place in Kaflfraria twenty-seven years ago, and the great suc- 
cess which attended his researches in that productive region 
was only the prelude to his fruitful labours in Basutoland, 
Griqualand West, Natal, and Zululand. The fine collection of 
native butterflies in the South-African Museum owes the greater 
part of its treasures to his exertions, — no less than forty new 
species, and one most remarkable new genus (Deloneura), in 
addition to very many rarities, being his own discoveries and 
donations. The gift of specimens has been immeasurably en- 
hanced in value by his copious notes on the haunts and habits 
of the insects, their distribution in South Africa, and their 
earlier stages. It is in very inadequate but most grateful 
acknowledgment of his co-operation that I have, with his per- 
mission, associated his name with my own on the title-page of 
the work to which he has so extensively and ably contributed. 
To Mrs. F. W. Barber, the sister of Colonel Bowker, I am 
also greatly indebted. Long known to European botanists for 
her attainments and discoveries in regard to the Flora of the 
