280 
Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
pigeons, Vinago delalandii, and small parrots, Poeocephalus meyeri, which gave 
life to the scenery. The young leaves and the flower-stalks were eaten as well 
as the buds. 
A beautiful Hibiscus, growing 7 to 8 feet high, which I found often the 
year before at Gadhla’s Kraal, Maputaland, and which yielded such good 
results (Teracolus regina, T. difficilis , Eronia cleodora, and lots of Trypetidae), 
was constantly under observation. Its flowers began to open at 9.30 a.m. 
and closed about half an hour before sunset ; but, at whatever time I visited 
this conspicuous plant, not a single insect was found, not even a Mylabrid. 
Every night traps were set for small rodents and insectivora. Before 
going to bed, and just before sunrise, the traps were inspected. Notwithstanding 
these precautions several specimens were lost, through ants having eaten the 
lips, nose, and the pads of the toes. Unfortunately three fine shrews were 
mutilated to such an extent that the skins were absolutely spoiled. 
Molerats were very scarce, but we succeeded in capturing one, which is 
described by Mr. A. Roberts as Georychus stellatus. 
Birds, on the other hand, were plentiful, especially Buphaga erythrorhyncha ; 
every ox we saw carried several of them. Besides these I noticed the common 
guinea fowl, Numida coronata, Francolinus shelleyi, Elanus caerulens, Plotus 
rufus, several common weaver birds, Nectarina famosa, two kinds of wood- 
peckers, a barbet, the two kinds of Crateropus , Urolestes, etc. No ducks were 
seen on the water. 
A good deal of trouble was taken to secure trapdoor spiders. In the 
beginning we found hardly any until it was found out that one species made 
its nest quite near the stems of aloes and other trees, whilst the Pelmatorycters 
built practically against the stones. One nest was rather remarkable. It was 
found under a tree, which had shed a very large number of nearly circular 
leaves of the size of a sixpence. Whilst blowing away these leaves, we remarked 
that one of them was kept in its place by almost invisible threads, and on 
closer examination it proved to be attached to the lid of a trapdoor spider 
nest, entirely covering the entrance. The nest is carefully preserved in our 
collection and the spider belongs to the genus Acanthodon. 
Amongst the plants there were few interesting forms, except the Huernia 
zebrina, the first record from Transvaal. This species being only known from 
Zululand, without further reference to locality, specimens were brought to 
Pretoria and planted in the Zoological Gardens ; but they all died during the 
winter. 
The following list of the captured Rhopalocera, with a few remarks, was 
made by Mr. C. J. Swierstra, our first assistant and entomologist : — 
LEPIDOPTERA FROM KOMATIPOORT. 
LEPIDOPTERA— RHOPALOCERA . 
Family NYMPHALIDAE. 
Sub-Family Acraeinae. 
1. Acraea neobule Doubl. 3 <J(J, 2 $$. Typical specimens. 1 and 1 $ 
are in perfect condition, the others more or less worn. 
2. Acraea caldarena Hewitson. 2 <J<J, 1 $. The 5 is very small but otherwise 
quite typical, as are also the 
3. Acraea oncaea Hoppf. 9 2 £$• The are of the typical form, while 
the 2 5$ are of the darker variety with the white spots well developed 
in forewing. 
