18fi8.) 219 
or AcrcBidoi. Is the absence of the latter due to those butterflies not 
frequenting the universally attractive liquid that exudes from these 
Acacias, or must we suppose that the 3Iantis does not approve of such 
strong-scented and probably distasteful food? Further observation 
must decide this point ; but, judging from the abundance of the two 
Eamilies in question, and their custom of constantly taking nourish- 
ment, it would seem improbable that they should entirely forsake a 
food so generally sought by other BJiopalocera. 
Before you have safely bestowed the last of your captures, insects 
are again eagerly crowding to the white, gummy secretion on the lofty 
branch. If you return to the spot again and again, you are pretty sure 
to find something worth having. 
As you make your way back through the woods toward the town, 
you are probably struck by the variety of Acrceidcs that cross your 
path. Besides A. Petrcea, eleven other species haunt these forests, and 
most of them are very common. The rarest, perhaps, is A. puncta- 
tissima, the smallest and least conspicuous of all ; but even this should 
rather be termed local than rare. 
Ton will do wisely to take a look round the Botanic Gardens 
before going indoors for your dinner, and afternoon's work of setting 
out and registering your captures. The Gardens (which we have 
already seen in winter time) are a grand resort for all kinds of insects ; 
and, more than that, you are certain of a hearty welcome and a cool 
drink from the Superintendent, who is, moreover, a practical naturalist 
and collector, and will put you up to many an entomological wrinkle.* 
Here you will notice, entomologically, considerable changes, as 
compared with your vnnter visit. The higher temperature has brought 
to birth a crowd of insects that did not then appear. This is specially 
noticeable in the Lepidoptera. If there are fewer of the Pieridce which 
were formerly so common, their place is more than filled by others of 
the same family, and some that were scarce then are abundant now. 
The thickly-blossomed rows of Vinca rosea, that border the long paths, 
are alive with butterflies, and notably with the fine Papilio Demolens 
and Eronia Gleodora. It is worth a journey to Natal, to see and cap- 
ture in its perfection the snowy-white Anthocharis lone, with its wing- 
tips of glittering-violet and black. This lovely creature abounds in the 
woods adjoining the Gardens, but is much less easily taken there, 
flowers being so much scarcer. The black Papilio Nireus, striped with 
• 1 may be permitted to mention tliat the gentleman to whom 1 here allutle is Mr M. J. M'Ken 
to whose energetic efforts D' Urban is indebted for its fine series of exotic plants, and the principal 
British and Colonial Gardens for the botanic;'! treasures of Natal and the adjacent regions. 
