594 
BIONOMIC NOTES 
of the underside was fully exposed to view. Then I twice saw 
it settle on grass; when the wings were half open it was very 
conspicuous, but when they were closed it was far otherwise. Four 
times I saw specimens go to rest on the leaves of a coarse plant, 
called by the natives u-Bomaan , which forms the bulk of the under¬ 
growth of the scrub on The Bluff, at Durban. Each rested with its 
wings closed and hanging down more or less, in which position its 
general shape was not unlike that of a leaf, while its colour, yellow 
blotched with purplish-brown, had a striking resemblance to the 
many yellow, eaten and blotched leaves upon the shrubs. The 
brilliant insect lost itself in its surroundings, although this was not 
a case of definite leaf mimicry as in Kallima or even in Freds. A 
rough coloured sketch made at the time gave (apart from artistic 
shortcomings) a faithful representation of some of the leaves. From 
this sketch and specimens of the butterflies Mr. Horace Knight 
made a beautiful painting, reproduced on the frontispiece of this 
volume. 
Dr. Dixey has a note which confirms the above:— 
The Bluff, Durban, August 16 th. Eronia deodor a, <J, observed 
to settle near leaves which, turned yellow and showing slits 
and circular holes, closely resembled its under surface. 
Mr. J. Medley Wood, the Director of the Natal Botanic Gardens, 
kindly writing to give me the name of the plant, says that the food 
plants of E. cleodora are Gapparis zeyheri , Turcz, and Niebuhria 
pedunculosa , Hochst., of the same Natural Order. 1 
Perhaps the most tropical-looking butterfly that we met with in 
South Africa was the large Nymphaline, Salamis anacardii, Linn.; 
nearly four inches across the wings, greenish-white, with a strong 
pearly lustre, it is a very beautiful creature. Its flight is very weak. 
Mr. A. D. Millar of Durban said that it was fond of resting in a 
particular tree or shrub with glaucous leaves. 
Dr. Dixey has a note:— 
Sydenham, Durban, August 15th. Watched Salamis anacardii. 
It flew in a slow, flappy, undecided way from side to side of 
the road, settling each time for a second or two on a tree. 
Presently it reached a tree whose leaves were about the 
same size as the anacardii when resting with wings over its 
back. Here it settled, beneath a cluster of leaves, being 
fully exposed to view and yet well concealed. It remained 
quiescent until forcibly disturbed. 
1 See above, p. 184 and footnote. 
