VICTORIA FALLS 
219 
but towards the Falls it is bounded by a dense hedge of very bright 
green trees, Eugenia cordata, an evergreen of the myrtle tribe. 1 The 
amount of spray, or “ Rain,” naturally varies with the height of the 
water and the force and direction of the wind. A sound that one 
soon learns to associate with the ceaseless roar of the cataract and 
the pattering of the spray-drops on the forest leaves is the musical 
cry of the Emerald-spotted Dove (Chalcopelia afra). 
We saw the Falls at a period of low water, this of course detracts 
from their grandeur, and, what is more, from their characteristic 
mystery, for the shrinking of the spray columns enables one to see 
the chasm better and so better comprehend its weird topography. 
But though the most absorbed collector cannot fail to be impressed 
by such unwonted surroundings, this is not the place to dwell 
upon the majesty of the Falls themselves, or the airy beauty of the 
brilliant rainbows that attend them by day or their more ghostly 
representatives in the moonlight. 
Two pre-eminent impressions remain graven upon the memory:— 
a vast river over a mile in width, dotted with wooded islets, glides 
noiselessly through the burning sand, coming one knows not whence; 
and again the same mighty river, with scarce a warning rapid or 
even swirl upon its peaceful waters, suddenly draws a veil of spray 
over its face as with a mighty roar it flings itself down 350 feet into 
a chasm athwart its channel, and emerging thence, one can scarce see 
how, pursues its long mysterious course between grim basaltic crags 
through the incredible zigzags of the Batoka. 
The hotel is situated close to the railway station, in the open 
forest, about a mile from the Falls, and perhaps 100 ft. above them, 
though geographically speaking below. The first insect to attract 
notice was a large Acmea flying about the tops of the trees, occa¬ 
sionally as many as a dozen together. After the exercise of some 
patience a fair series of specimens and a stiff neck were secured. 
These butterflies proved to be very beautiful, with pinkish fore-wings 
and white hind-wings ; they were new to Mr. Marshall, but previously 
known to Mr. Trimen by two specimens only, and then considered 
by him to be a variety of A. anemosa, Hew., to which Aurivillius gave 
the name of alboradiata. A long series amply proves this form to be 
a new species, which should consequently bear the name given to 
the supposed variety by Aurivillius. If, tired of gazing up at these 
beauties, the eyes were turned with relief to the ground, Ants might 
1 For an excellent account of the botany of Southern Rhodesia, with a good 
description of the Matopo Hills and the country about the Falls, see a paper by 
Miss L. S. Gibbs, F.L.S., Journ. Lmnean Soc ., Botany , vol. xxxvii., 1906, pp. 425-494. 
