250 
SOUTH AFEICA 
The dry sandy soil, scorched by the snn and exposed to the sea 
winds, is thoroughly suited to the taste of a Mesembryanthemum, 
which grew luxuriantly, its handsome flowers attracting many insects. 
Among these was the Hopliine beetle, Lepitrix lineata , referred to 
above, which was abundant at one spot close to the railway station. 
Unlike the Dicheli and Heterocheli , they did not bury themselves 
among the stamens of the flowers, but were as active as bees. On 
the other hand, some small black Bees with white-ringed abdomen, 
Halictus albofasciatus , Smith, did bury themselves in the Mesem¬ 
bryanthemum, but nevertheless were so active as to be difficult to 
catch; associated with them, closely mimicking them, and almost 
equally hard to catch, were some Flies (?) Ploas sp. and (?) Pro - 
rachthes sp. The mimicry, especially in habits, was very marked 
during life, yet in the cabinet the insects look distinct enough. 
On other flowers were such small things as six green beetles, (?) 
Hedybius sp., the tiny Eumolpid Eurysthenes balyi, Chap., a Eutrapela 
sp., which stands without a name at South Kensington; Attagenus 
sp.; Harpalus xanthographus, Wied.; Telephorus sp.; the Hopliine 
Pachycnema obscurepurpuria, De Geer, a $; also one of each sex of a 
small Bee, Dasypoda sp., which according to Colonel Bingham is 
near to, but distinct from discincta, Ill., and the little Halictus 
terminalis , Smith, ?. A yellow Liliaceous flower was tenanted by 
a small beetle, Notoxus inconstans , Lafert. 
The black and yellow Oeroetis capensis, Linn., was found in the 
yellow flower of a prickly Composite, while in the flowers of Senecio 
(?) concolor (a species with purple ray-florets) were numbers of a small 
Heteromeron, Notoxus sp. 
Close to the beach, running swiftly over the sand and taking the 
short flights so characteristic of the genus, were several Cicindela 
brevicollis , Wied. An Asilid, (?) Dysmachus sp., was fond of settling 
on the bare sand. The Elater Oedisternon cupreum, Linn., was also 
taken on the sand ; during life it was of an iridescent bronze colour, 
which proved very fugitive. 
On a tuft of grass, above the ground, a semi-papyraceous nest 
was found to be tenanted by a numerous community of ants, Cremasto- 
gaster stadelmanni , Mayr. 
Lastly, on the heathy scrub on the hillside at Glencairn two 
Lycaenids were taken, Phasis thero, Linn., and Cacyreus thespis, Linn. 
With them was a Fly, Haematopota sp. 
Just before embarking we drove down to The Flats, near Clare¬ 
mont, but the weather conditions were unfavourable and the results 
wholly disappointing. Pyrameis eardui and Pseudonympha cassius 
