NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
123 
of black-and-white humming-bird hawk moths were hovering 
over the inflorescences of a heather-like plant ( Ocimum suave). 
I caught a dozen. Another moth has just made its appearance 
in considerable numbers, and is like a huge yellow underwing, 
but with gorgeous metallic upper wings. I caught a number 
in the long grass, where they were sitting head downwards 
waiting for the shades of night. By far the best way of catching 
butterflies is after sunset, when there is half an hour before 
dark. If one walks through the long grass, especially on the 
outskirts of a wood, they may be seen clinging to the grass 
stems, and so numbed that they may be gently lifted off with 
the left finger and thumb for examination ; if they are damaged, 
replace them, and they will go to sleep again, perhaps shifting 
their position a little. If in perfect condition, a nip in the 
thoracic region with a pair of tweezers in the left hand ends 
their joys and troubles in this life at least. 
I have seen a dozen swallow-tails of the common species 
all grouped about in a square yard or so of grass in this way, 
and have been able to select one or two of the best in the 
manner described. Next year I hope to take up photography 
and get a view of this, as it would make a pretty picture, 
especially in colour. This week I have come across several 
clusters of the black larva of a grasshopper on the bushes or 
tops of plants ; they are also a novelty to me. 
May 22, 1915. — Two eggs in the Reichenow’s weaver 
bird’s nest ; nothing in the second. Took a fine clearwing hawk 
moth and a dozen striped at flowers. 
May 24, 1915. — Went out on the plains, where we* (that 
is, my boy and self) found several nests and eggs and a score 
building : a shrike’s with two eggs, a finch’s with three, 
two red-necked weaver’s with two and three respectively, 
another weaver’s with mottled brown eggs — two, and a third 
weaver’s with five small white eggs and one large. All the 
birds were sitting. These weaver birds’ nests are very like 
those of a willow wren, only built a foot from the ground and 
fixed to the grass stems after the manner of an English reed 
warbler. I found nearly twenty nests in course of construc- 
tion — just an oval of grass firmly fastened to the stems ; another 
had young in it. 
