CAPE TOWN 
179 
We were aware of the poverty in Ehopalocera of the Cape 
Peninsula, and Mr. L. Peringuey, the obliging director of the South 
African Museum, impressed the fact upon our minds, yet we were 
hardly prepared to find butterflies so scarce as in fact we did. 
The best scheme seemed to be to drive to Camps Bay, stopping 
on the way to collect on the slopes of the Lion’s Head, above Sea 
Point. While waiting for the carriage we took in the garden of the 
Mount Nelson Hotel, on Narcissus flowers, a few Honey-bees, Apis 
mellifica , of the somewhat brighter race adansoni, Latr., that is 
prevalent throughout South Africa, and with them their familiar 
mimic Eristalis tenax . An Empis was also common in the garden. 
The country had all the appearance of early spring, and it was 
evident enough that we were much too early for good sport. Below 
the Lion’s Head, by a little stream perhaps 200 ft. above sea-level, 
we took two specimens of the brownish Lycaenid Cacyreus palemon , 
Cram., quite unlike any Blue that either of us had previously seen 
alive; these and a Skipper that eluded capture at Camps Bay were 
the only butterflies we saw that day. 
Turning over stones proved disappointing; besides sundry 
Scorpions and Myriapods the chief tenants were Ants, a larger 
yellowish species, Camponotus maculatus , Fabr., and a smaller black 
species, Acantholepis capensis , Mayr. With the ants were a few 
Beetles, such as two specimens of Formicomus coeruleus , Thunb.; an 
Anthiid, Microlestia tabida , Fabr.; another beetle not yet determined, 
and two larvae of a Lampyris. 
Along with the beetles were sundry Cockroaches, creatures we 
were afterwards to find numerous; among them were two 
Pseudoderopeltis juncea , Sauss., and immature examples of possibly 
the same species. 1 
The best harbour for insects appeared to be a species of Solanum , 
a medium-sized, prickly shrub bearing numerous seed capsules. 
On this plant the red Lady-bird Chilomenes lunata , Fabr., was 
abundant, and a black species, Chilocorus sp., unrepresented in 
the National Collection, was fairly common. Several other Lady¬ 
bird-like beetles, as yet undetermined, were found on the same plant, 
as well as one specimen of Epilachna hirta, Thunb. (the sole 
phytophagous genus in a family otherwise carnivorous). On the 
leaves were also two examples of the tiny Abacetus minutus, Dej. 
A dark-green, scarlet-striped Bug, Lygaeus festivus, Thunb., 
accompanied the Lady-birds, while immature specimens of the same 
1 Mr. Shelford says that it is not possible to determine with certainty the species, 
or in some cases even the genus, of immature cockroaches 
