POET ELIZABETH 
181 
it seemed quite natural to put up a couple of Hares. Low growing 
Euphorbias were many and varied, one appeared to be absolutely 
stemless, the involucres springing directly from the ground. There 
was also an ivy-leaved Pelargonium. 
A fresh easterly breeze swept over the open ground and added 
to the difficulty of catching butterflies. The males of Synchloe 
hellica, Linn., were common, flying fast, and rarely settling; four 
specimens were secured. Of Leuceronia buquetii, Boisd., at least 
three were seen, two were secured, both males, but a third managed 
to get out of the net; they flew strongly. The proboscis of this 
butterfly when fresh is of a bright green colour like its eyes. Colias 
electra , Linn., was more restrained in its movements, and two males 
were taken. Of Pinacopteryx charina, Boisd., several were seen, also 
two or three individuals of an orange-tipped Teracolus (probably 
omphale , Godart), but it eluded all our efforts to effect its capture. 1 
On the lee side of bushes which afforded a slight shelter, the 
Lycaenid, Leptomyrina lara , Linn., was common, taking short flights 
and settling on the ground or on low plants. Hearer the sea on 
a sunny bank under the lee of the sandhills, the very beautiful and 
singular Lycaenid Phasis thysbe, Linn. ( osbeclci , Auriv.), was not 
uncommon, though apparently very local; it has a quick skipping 
flight and time allowed the capture of but two males and a female. 
In the same locality a pretty little rose-coloured Geometer, Sterrha 
plectaria , Guen., was fairly common, but unfortunately only two 
specimens were brought away. On the open plain the familiar and 
cosmopolitan Nomophila noctuella was often disturbed and two were 
taken, as well as a specimen of the scarcely less widely distributed 
Scopula ferrugalis, Hiibn. 
A piece of rough heathy ground near the railway station 
yielded two Satyrids, Pseudonympha sabacus, Trim., and others 
were seen near the same spot; the genus is characteristic of 
South Africa. Close by a small Blue, Zizera lysimon, Hiibn., was 
netted, as well as a fine variety of Sterrha sacraria , Linn. 
Under some planks lying on the sand of the river bank we found 
among smaller Bugs, our first specimens of Physorhynchus crux, 
Thunb. This large Keduviid, whose wings are so closely appressed 
to the abdomen that we for some time took it to be apterous, is 
very conspicuous when alive, the pale testaceous thorax and margins 
of the abdomen showing up the black cross upon its back, but the 
pale portions soon darken and the insect is dingy in the cabinet. 
The same planks afforded cover to a Slow-worm. This was a pale 
1 Dr. Dixey’s ecstatic cry, “ Teracolus ! ” still seems to ring in my ears. 
