orange. Stomach very muscular, containing seeds and insects. Noisy tame
bird. Shot in company with the black Long-tails (_Chera_); had been
moulting, as feathers were loose.
_b._ ♀ Tati, October 25, 1874. Iris dark; bill dusky orange; legs
dusky, with an orange tinge.
_c._ ♀ Near first Makalaka kraal, Zambesi road, June 17, 1874. Iris
dark hazel; bill and legs dusky orange. Stomach containing many seeds,
and a few insect remains and gravel. Three nests in a high tree full of
these birds.
_d._ ♂ Tati, September 30, 1874. Iris hazel; bill coral-red; legs
salmon-colour; claws dusky. Shot by Thomson out of a flock of similar
birds, and a black-winged white species.
139. HYPHANTORNIS CAPENSIS (Gm.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 59. Cape
Yellow Weaver-bird.
_a._ ♂ Transvaal, December 16, 1873. Iris straw-colour.
140. HYPHANTORNIS OLIVACEUS (Hahn): Gray, _Handl. B._, ii. p.
41, No. 6575. Olive-and-yellow Weaver-bird.
_a._ ♀ Transvaal, December 16, 1873. Iris raw sienna.
141. HYPHANTORNIS OCULARIS (Smith). Smith’s Weaver-bird.
_a._ ♂, _b._ ♀ Pinetown, near Durban, April 1873. Iris buff; bill
black; legs grey.
_c._ ♂ Pietermaritzburg, April 30, 1873. Iris light hazel or
golden.
142. HYPHANTORNIS MARIQUENSIS (Smith): Layard, _B. S. Afr._, p.
182. Mariqua Weaver-bird.
_a._ ♂ Seruli River, October 18, 1873. Iris bronze.
143. HYPHANTORNIS NIGRIFRONS, Cab.: Layard, _t. c._ p. 180.
Black-fronted Weaver-bird.
_a._ ♀ Inyati, October 3, 1873. Iris pale reddish hazel; bill and
legs pinkish; upper mandible tinged with dusky. This bird, and another
shot the same time, were in moult. The other one is much duller; not
so yellow on head, rump, and tail; throat and breast tinged with pale
yellow; belly white.
_b._ ♂ Ishokwani, near Semokwe River, October 14, 1873. Iris yellowish
white.
_c._ ♂ Tati, October 21, 1874. Iris straw-colour; lower mandible
flesh-colour, upper one dusky; legs slate-colour. Insects in stomach.
144. SPOROPIPES SQUAMIFRONS (Smith): Sharpe, _Cat. Afr. B._, p.
61. Scutellated Finch.
_a._ ♀ Semokwe River, September 30, 1873. Iris burnt sienna.
145. VIDUA VERREAUXI, Cass.: Finsch and Hartl., _Vög. Ost-afr._,
p. 426. Verreaux’s Widow-bird.
_a._ ♂ (very fully developed). Tati, March 30, 1874. Iris dark
hazel. Stomach containing seeds, a little grit, and remains of a beetle.
146. VIDUA REGIA (L.): Sharpe, _Cat. Afr. B._, p. 63.
Shaft-tailed Widow-bird.
_a, b, c, d._ ♂ Tati, March 20, 21, 22, 24, 1874. Iris dark hazel;
bill, legs, and claws, coral-red. Small seeds in stomach.
147. VIDUA PRINCIPALIS (L.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 63. Common
Widow-bird.
_a._ ♂ Transvaal, December 1, 1873. Iris hazel.
_b._ ♂ Hope Fountain, near Gubuleweyo; shot in Mr. Thomson’s
garden, about the beginning of December 1873. Iris dark hazel.
_c._ ♀ (?) Tati, March 31, 1874. Iris dark; bill and legs
coral-red. I think this may be an immature male. In one or two examined
afterwards, undoubted females, the bill was pale and the legs more
dusky.
_d._ Not labelled.
148. CHERA PROGNE (Bodd.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 63. Great
Widow-bird.
_a._ ♀ Pietermaritzburg, April 30, 1873.
_b, c._ John Scott’s Farm, Transvaal, June 19, 1873. Iris hazel.
_d, e._ ♂ Transvaal, December 18, 1873.
_f, g, h, i._ Not labelled.
149. PENTHETRIA ALBINOTATA (Cass.): Finsch and Hartl., _Vög.
Ost-afr._, p. 420. White-spotted Widow-bird.
_a._ ♂ (undeveloped). Tamasetsie, December 16, 1874. Iris hazel; bill
bluish; legs black.
_b._ ♂ Between the Pantamatenka River and Zambesi, January 11, 1875.
Iris hazel; bill pale bluish violet; legs black. Seeds in stomach.
150. PENTHETRIA ARDENS (Bodd.): Sharpe, _Cat. Afr. B._, p. 63.
Orange-throated Widow-bird.
_a._ Natal, 1873.
151. EUPLECTES CAPENSIS (L.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 62. Cape
Black-and-yellow Widow-bird.
_a._ Kaar Kloof Heights, near Pietermaritzburg, May 19, 1873. Iris
hazel.
_b._ Inyati, September 29, 1873. Iris dark hazel.
_c._ Semokwe River, October 1873. Iris hazel.
_d._ Hope Fountain, near Gubuleweyo, about the beginning of
December 1873. Iris dark hazel.
_e._ Not labelled.
152. EUPLECTES ORYX (L.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 62. Red Bishop-bird.
_a, b._ ♂ Transvaal, 1873.
_c._ Hope Fountain, near Gubuleweyo, about the beginning of December
1873. Iris dark hazel.
Family FRINGILLIDÆ.
153. AMADINA ERYTHROCEPHALA (L.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 65.
Red-headed Wax-bill.
_a._ ♀ Tati, October 1874. Iris pale hazel; skin round eye red; bill
dusky blue; legs dirty flesh-colour.
154. PYTELIA MELBA (L.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 66. Southern
Red-faced Finch.
_a._ ♂ Tati, September 1, 1873. Iris burnt sienna.
_b._ ♂ Tati, September 1873.
_c._ ♂ (?) d. Tati, October 28, 1874. Iris scarlet; bill coral-red;
legs pale brown.
155. ESTRELDA ASTRILD (L.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 65. Wax-bill
Finch.
_a._ ♂, _b._ Tati, October 9, 1874. Iris hazel (?); bill vermilion;
legs and claws black.
_c._ Not labelled.
156. ESTRELDA ERYTHRONOTA (Vieill.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 64.
Black-cheeked Finch.
_a._ ♀, _b._ Tati, October 3, 1874. Iris deep crimson; bill dark
slate-colour.
157. ESTRELDA GRANATINA (L.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 65. Grenadier
Wax-bill.
_a._ Semokwe River, September 1873.
_b._ ♂ Tati, September 30, 1874. Iris red; bill and skin round eye
scarlet-lake; legs dark brown.
158. ESTRELDA CYANOGASTRA (Daud.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 65.
Southern Bengali Finch.
_a._ ♂ Tati, March 21, 1874. Iris claret-colour; bill violet, lilac at
base; legs pale flesh-colour. Small seeds in stomach.
_b._ Tati, October 3, 1874. Iris claret-colour.
_c._ ♂ Tati, October 21, 1874. Iris claret-colour; bill violet; legs
pale brown (?).
_d._ ♀ Tati, October 1874.
159. LAGONOSTICTA MINIMA (Vieill.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 66.
Amadavat Finch.
_a._ ♂ (?) Crocodile River, July 1873. Iris very pale hazel.
_b._ Crocodile River, July 1873. Iris lake.
160. ORTYGOSPIZA POLYZONA (Temm.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 66. Little
Barred-breasted Finch.
_a._ Desolate country near Newcastle, June 5, 1873. Iris
pheasant-colour. Two shot out of a flock.
161. PASSER MOTITENSIS, Smith: Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 69. Greater
South African Sparrow.
_a._ ♀ Palatswe River, August 13, 1873. Iris dark greyish hazel.
Stomach very muscular, containing grit; seeds in throat.
_b._ ♀ (probably). Tati, September 24, 1874. Iris palish hazel; bill
black; legs brown; claws darker.
_c._ ♂ Tati, October 19, 1873. Iris brown.
_d._ Tati, October 6, 1874. Bill black; legs brown.
162. PASSER DIFFUSUS, Smith: Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 69. Southern
Grey-headed Sparrow.
_a._ Crocodile River; in cultivated fields, July 1873. Iris greenish
hazel.
163. PLOCEPASSER MAHALI, Smith: Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 61.
White-browed Weaver-bird.
_a._ ♂ Palatswe River, August 13, 1873. Iris dark burnt sienna.
Stomach muscular, containing remains of insects. Song not unlike that
of a Chaffinch, but much shorter and quieter. I think I have seen these
birds since the Lion Camp on the Crocodile River. They go in small
parties.
_b._ Not labelled.
164. POLIOSPIZA GULARIS (Smith): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 68.
Striped-headed Grosbeak.
_a._ Between Pretoria and Bamangwato, July 1873. Iris pale
claret-tinted hazel.
165. CRITHAGRA CHRYSOPYGA (Sw.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 67.
Golden-rumped Grosbeak.
_a._ ♀ Tati, October 9, 1874. Iris hazel; bill dirty violet or
flesh-colour; legs brown.
166. CRITHAGRA ANGOLENSIS (Gm.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 67. Angola
Grosbeak.
_a._ ♂ (?) First Makalaka kraal, Zambesi road, August 20, 1874.
Iris hazel. Shot out of flock.
167. FRINGILLARIA FLAVIVENTRIS (Vieill.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 70.
Golden-breasted Bunting.
_a._ ♂ Between the Gokwe and Seruli Rivers, October 17, 1873. Iris
hazel.
_b._ ♂ Semokwe River, October 1873. Iris hazel.
_c._ (young bird). Inchlangin, beginning of December 1873. Iris
hazel.
_d._ First Makalaka kraal, Zambesi road, August 19, 1874. Iris
dark hazel. Another I examined like this in plumage was a male. I have
seen them much duller in colour, and the black stripes on the head
replaced by brown.
_e._ ♂ Tati, October 10, 1874. Iris hazel; bill flesh-colour; legs
pale brown.
168. FRINGILLARIA CAPENSIS (L.): Sharpe, _t. c._ p. 70. Cape
Bunting.
_a._ ♂ Mossel Bay, Cape Colony, April 11, 1873. Iris dark hazel.
Seeds and fly in stomach.
Order COLUMBÆ.
169. TURTUR CAPICOLA, Sund.: Finsch and Hartl., _Vög. Ost-afr._,
p. 548. Cape Turtle Dove.
_a._ ♂ Mossel Bay, Cape Colony, April 11, 1873. Iris dark hazel.
Seeds in stomach.
_b._ ♂ Pietermaritzburg, beginning of May 1873. Iris slate-colour
(?); legs flesh-colour.
_c._ ♀ (?) Between Pretoria and Bamangwato. Iris hazel.
170. CHALCOPELIA AFRA (L.): Finsch and Hartl., _t. c._ p. 554.
Emerald-spotted Dove.
_a._ Blauw Krans River, Natal, May 22, 1873. Iris chestnut.
171. ŒNA CAPENSIS (L.): Finsch and Hartl., _t. c._ p. 557.
Long-tailed African Dove.
_a._ ♀ Between Pretoria and Bamangwato, July 1873. Iris dark hazel.
_b._ ♂ Near Crocodile River, July 1873. Iris hazel.
_c._ ♂ Tati, September 29, 1874. Iris and bill orange; legs lake.
Small black seeds in stomach.
Order GALLINÆ.
Family PTEROCLIDÆ.
172. PTEROCLES GUTTURALIS, Smith: Layard, _B. S. Afr._, p. 279.
Yellow-throated Sand-Grouse.
_a, b._ ♂, _c._ ♀ Shashe River, where Zambesi road crosses
it, north of Tati; coming to the water night and morning, August 17,
1874. Iris hazel; bill and legs dark bluish grey; claws dusky black. A
small species of bean and gravel in stomach, which is very muscular.
173. PTEROCLES BICINCTUS, Temm.: Layard, _t. c._ p. 278.
Double-banded Sand-Grouse.
_a._ ♂ Makalapsi River, August 6, 1873. Iris hazel; skin round eye
yellow; bill very dark; corners of mouth and base of lower mandible
yellow; legs and feet dusky yellow; claws dark dusky brownish lake.
_b._ ♂ Makalapsi River, August 8, 1873. Iris hazel; skin round eye
bright yellow; upper mandible deep lake, under one orange; legs and
feet dull yellow; claws dusky lake. Crop very full of small pebbles; a
few seeds in it.
_c._ ♂, _d._ ♀ Motloutsi River, August 1873. Iris hazel.
Family PERDICIDÆ.
174. TURNIX LEPURANA, Smith: Layard, _t. c._ p. 275. Kurrichaine
Hemipode.
_a._ Not labelled.
175. FRANCOLINUS AFER, Temm.: Layard, _t. c._ p. 270.
Grey-winged Francolin.
_a, b._ ♂ Retief’s Drift, Vaal River, June 11, 1873. Iris hazel.
176. FRANCOLINUS NATALENSIS, Smith: Layard, _t. c._ p. 273.
Natal Francolin.
_a._ ♀ Makalapsi River, August 7, 1873. Iris hazel; bill dusky;
tip and lower mandible pale orange; legs, feet, and claws palish orange.
177. FRANCOLINUS PILEATUS, Smith: Layard, _t. c._ p. 272.
Pileated Francolin.
_a._ ♂, _b._ ♀ Lion Camp, Crocodile River, July 1873. Iris
hazel; legs red.
_c._ ♂ Gokwe River, October 16, 1873. Iris dark hazel.
178. COTURNIX DACTYLISONANS, Temm.: Layard, _t. c._ p. 274.
Common Quail.
_a._ ♂ High Veldt, Transvaal, December 1873. Iris hazel.
179. COTURNIX DELEGORGUEI, Delegorgue: _C. histrionica_, Hartl.:
Layard, _t. c._ p. 275. Harlequin Quail.
_a._ Gubuleweyo, December 26, 1873. Native name “Seguatha.” Iris
rich brown; bill black; legs pale flesh-colour. Does not lie well to a
dog, but runs rapidly, and at last rises.
_b._ ♂, _c._ ♀ Gubuleweyo, January 3, 1874. Iris rich brown;
bill black; legs and feet salmon-colour.
Order GRALLÆ.
Family RALLIDÆ.
180. PARRA CAPENSIS, Smith: Gurney in Anderss. _B. Dam. Ld._, p.
330. Lesser African Jacana.
_a._ Not labelled.
181. PORPHYRIS ALLENI, Thoms.: Gurney, _t. c._ p. 327. Allen’s
Blue Water-hen.
_a._ Not labelled.
182. FULICA CRISTATA (Gm.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 327.
Rufous-knobbed Coot.
_a._ Transvaal, 1873.
183. GALLINULA ANGULATA, Sund.: Gurney, _t. c._ p. 321. South
African Moor-hen.
_a._ ♂ Dry River; killed by the boys with sticks, February 27,
1874. Iris crimson; a narrow circle of tawny yellow within the iris,
near the outside; bill crimson and yellow; legs greenish yellow.
Vegetable matter in stomach.
_b._ ♀ Tibakai’s Vlei, December 19, 1874. Iris pale crimson; bill
yellow, scarlet stripe on top of upper mandible, under one tipped with
scarlet; legs pale yellowish brown; thighs pale yellow, tinged with
brown. Gravel and vegetable matter in stomach.
184. ORTYGOMETRA EGREGIA (Peters): Finsch and Hartl., _Vög.
Ost-Afr._, p. 778. Peters’s Crake.
_a._ Gubuleweyo; shot in marsh by spruit, December 26, 1873. Iris
crimson-lake; skin round iris vermilion; lower part of base of upper
mandible and whole of base of lower mandible magenta, of a lilac tinge;
upper part of upper mandible dark slate-colour, lower part of it near
tip lighter slate-colour, tip of lower mandible whitish; legs dusky
flesh-colour.
185. CREX PRATENSIS, Bechstein. _Ortygometra crex_ (Gm.):
Layard, _B. S. Afr._, p. 338. Corn-crake.
_a._ ♂ (testes slightly developed). Tati; shot in long grass,
March 22, 1874. Iris red-brown; skin round eye brick-red; bill violet;
legs pale flesh-colour. Stomach muscular, containing stones and remains
of large insects.
Family SCOLOPACIDÆ.
186. Philomachus pugnax (L.): Gurney in Anderss. B. Dam. Ld., p.
304. Ruff.
_a._ ♀ Mopani Pan, near Ramaqueban River, November 4, 1874. Iris
hazel; bill dusky black, brownish at base; legs dirty orange; claws
black.
187. ACTITIS HYPOLEUCUS (L.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 303. Common
Sandpiper.
_a._ ♀ Inyati, October 2, 1873. Iris dark hazel; bill dusky, base
of lower mandible pale neutral tint; legs pale violet; feet and claws
dusky.
_b._ ♀ Sibanani, December 7, 1874. Iris hazel; legs pale dirty
slate-colour; base of lower mandible slate-colour; rest of bill dusky
black.
188. TOTANUS CANESCENS (Gm.): Sharpe and Dresser, _B. Eur._, pl.
xlii. Greenshanks.
_a._ ♂ Inquinquesi River, September 29, 1873. Native name
“Tabi-tabi.” Iris dark hazel; legs dull olive.
189. TOTANUS GLAREOLA (L.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 302. Wood
Sandpiper.
_a._ Inyati, September 28, 1873. Iris dark hazel; legs dull olive
green.
Family GLAREOLIDÆ.
190. GLAREOLA MELANOPTERA (Nordm.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 264.
Black-winged Pratincole.
_a._ ♂, _b._ ♀ Branslow’s Farm, Transvaal, December 8, 1873.
Iris dark hazel.
Family CHARADRIIDÆ.
191. HOPLOPTERUS SPECIOSUS (Licht.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 267.
Blacksmith Plover.
_a._ ♀ Branslow’s Farm, Transvaal, December 8, 1873. Iris dark
crimson.
_b._ ♀ Shashe River, October 16, 1874. Iris crimson; bill and legs
black. Beetles in stomach.
_c._ Not labelled.
192. CHETTUSIA CORONATA (Gm.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 268. Wreathed
Plover.
_a._ ♀ Bisschop’s Farm, Transvaal, June 20, 1873. Iris bright
yellow, with hazel ring round pupil. Stomach containing beetles and
grasshoppers.
_b._ ♂ (testes very rudimentary). Tati, March 26, 1874. Iris hazel
round pupil, then yellow; bill magenta, tip black; legs and skin round
eye magenta; claws black.
193. ÆGIALITIS ATRICOLLARIS (Vieill.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 274.
Treble-collared Plover.
_a._ Durban, April 23, 1873.
Family OTIDIDÆ.
194. OTIS KORI, Burchell. _Eupodotis cristata_, Layard, _t. c._
p. 283. Kori Bustard.
_a._ (Sex doubtful; perhaps a young hen.) Near Palatswe River,
May 16, 1874. Iris hazel, dark round the pupil, but becoming very pale
towards the outside; upper mandible black; under one greenish white,
tipped with black; legs and feet pale greenish white; claws dusky.
195. EUPODOTIS CÆRULESCENS (Vieill.): Layard, _t. c._ p. 285.
Blue Bustard.
_a._ ♂ Near Sunday’s River, May 28, 1873. Iris hazel.
196. ŒDICNEMUS CAPENSIS, Licht.: Gurney in Anderss. _B. Dam.
Ld._, p. 266. Spotted Thick-knee.
_a._ Near Pilandsberg, Transvaal, July 1873. Iris golden yellow;
eye large.
_b._ Not labelled.
Family ARDEIDÆ.
197. ARDEA MELANOCEPHALA, Vig. and Childr.: Gurney, _t. c._ p.
284. Black-throated Heron.
_a._ ♂ Marsh near Pretoria, June 21, 1873. Iris yellow.
198. ARDEA PURPUREA, L.: Gurney, _t. c._ p. 286. Purple Heron.
_a._ Not labelled.
199. HERODIAS INTERMEDIA (Wagl.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 289.
Short-billed Egret.
_a._ Not labelled.
200. BUTORIDES ATRICAPILLUS (Afzel): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 292.
Black-headed Dwarf Heron.
_a, b._ Not labelled.
201. BUTORIDES STURMII (Wagl.), _Ardeiralla Sturmii_ (Wagl.):
Gurney, _t. c._ p. 291. Sturm’s Heron.
_a._ Not labelled.
202. BUTORIDES RUFIVENTRIS (Sund.), _Ardea rufiventris_ (Sund.):
Ayres, _Ibis_, 1871, pl. ix. Red-bellied Heron.
_a._ ♂ Hendrik’s Vlei, December 1874. Iris dark hazel; bill black;
legs slate-colour.
203. BUBULCUS IBIS (Hasselq.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 288.
Buff-backed Heron.
_a._ ♀ Tati, September 26, 1874. Iris bright yellow, inclining to
orange; skin round eye chrome yellow; bill yellow; legs orange-yellow,
somewhat dusky; claws blackish. Lizards, grasshoppers, and beetles in
stomach. This bird not so fat as some shot at Bamangwato in May.
Family CICONIIDÆ.
204. CICONIA ALBA (L.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 280. White Stork.
_a._ ♂ Ramaqueban River, where the Zambesi road leaves it,
going north, November 15, 1874. Iris dark hazel; bill and legs
orange-vermilion; skin about eye the same, but with a dark patch on it
near the eye, and also near the under mandible.
205. SPHENORHYNCHUS ABDIMII (Licht.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 280.
White-bellied Stork.
_a._ ♂ Sibanani, December 11, 1874. Iris white, inclining to
greenish ochreous; bill olive, tipped with vermilion; a flesh-coloured
knob at the base.
206. SCOPUS UMBRETTA (Gm.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 294. Tufted Umbre.
_a._ ♂ Makalapsi River, August 7, 1873. Iris dark; bill, legs, and
claws black. Frogs in stomach.
Order NATATORES.
Family ANATIDÆ.
207. SARKIDIORNIS MELANONOTUS (Penn.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 335.
Knob-billed Goose.
_a._ ♀ Mopani Pan, near Ramaqueban River, March 16, 1874. Iris
dark hazel; bill and legs black. Shot in a tree. The dogs caught a
young one in the pan, where I suppose this Goose had its brood.
208. NETTAPUS AURITUS (Bodd.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 336. African
Dwarf Goose.
_a._ ♂, _b._ [♀]. Not labelled.
209. ANAS XANTHORHYNCHA, Forst.: Gurney, _t. c._ p. 342.
Yellow-billed Duck.
_a._ ♀ Near Pretoria, June 18, 1873. Iris bright brown. Grit and
vegetable matter in stomach.
210. PÆCILONETTA ERYTHRORHYNCHA (Smith): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 339.
Red-billed Teal.
_a._ ♀ Mopani Pan, near Ramaqueban River, March 16, 1874. Iris
dark hazel; bill (I think) brown on top, dull orange on sides; legs
black. Caught by dog. They say this is the common small duck here.
_b._ ♂ Mopani Pan, near Ramaqueban River, November 5, 1874. Iris
bright brown; bill pink with a lilac tinge, a dark lilac stroke on
the top; legs slate-colour, inclining to lilac. Out of four shot, I
think three were males and one a female, but the plumage differed very
little. The boy found a curious swelling in the windpipe of two, which
he says were males. He said the female had not got it.
Family PELECANIDÆ.
211. GRACULUS AFRICANUS (Gm.): Gurney, _t. c._ p. 370.
Long-tailed Cormorant.
_a._ Not labelled.
212. PLOTUS LEVAILLANTII, Licht.: Gurney, _t. c._ p. 367. Le
Vaillant’s Darter.
_a._ Meriko River, November 1873.
Family PODICIPIDÆ.
213. PODICEPS MINOR, L.: Gurney, _t. c._ p. 347. Little Grebe.
_a._ Tchakani Vlei, May 15, 1874. Iris yellowish hazel, or rather
deep raw sienna or amber; upper mandible dusky black; base and lower
mandible orange; legs and feet black.
_b._ ♀ Tamasancha, December 10, 1874. Bill black, tipped with
white, and spotted at base with white; legs black, fringed on webs with
white. Beetles in stomach.
[Illustration:
App.Pl.A.
J.G.Keulemans lith. Hanhart imp.
SAXICOLA SHELLEYI.]
[Illustration:
App.Pl.B.
J.G.Keulemans lith. Hanhart imp.
BRADYORNIS OATESII.]
III.
HERPETOLOGY.
BY ALBERT GÜNTHER, M.A., Ph.D., M.D., F.R.S.
(PLATES C, D.)
_DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF SNAKES FROM SOUTH-EASTERN
AFRICA._
Family COLUBRIDÆ.
CORONELLA TRITÆNIA, sp. n. (Plate C.)
Vertical shield elongate, twice as long as broad, longer than the two
frontals together, or than the occipital which is rounded behind.
Rostral shield extending on the upper surface of the head; loreal
square; anteocular large, extending to the upper surface of the head,
but not reaching the vertical; two post-oculars. Eight upper labials,
the fourth and fifth entering the orbit, the last small. Two large
anterior temporals which are in contact with both post-oculars; the
outer temporals scale-like. Scales in seventeen rows, with a single
apical groove. Ventrals 168; anal bifid; sub-caudals 61. Posterior
maxillary tooth grooved. Ground colour light olive, with three well
defined brown longitudinal bands; the median one commences behind the
occipital and is lost in the middle of the tail; it occupies the median
series of scales, and has a fine yellow line running along its middle;
the lateral band commences underneath the canthus rostralis, and is
continued to the end of the tail; it occupies the third and fourth
outer series of scales and the adjoining halves of the neighbouring
series; it has narrow black edges; the outermost series of scales is
white like the abdomen, but with a faint brownish line. Lower parts
pure white.
Total length 19 inches; the cleft of the mouth measuring six lines, and
the tail 3½ inches.
Family DRYIOPHIDÆ.
DRYIOPHIS OATESII, sp. n. (Plate D.)
Allied to _Dryiophis Kirtlandii_, but the rostral shield is not
reverted to the upper surface of the head; the præocular reaches to
the upper surface only, remaining far distant from the vertical. Two
post-oculars: temporals 1 + 2 + 2, the anterior being the smallest, and
in contact with the upper post-ocular.
Head with very peculiar colouration; the upper surface is ornamented
by a pink T-shaped figure, the horizontal bar stretching from eye
to eye, and the vertical part occupying the middle of the occipital
shields. This figure is finely mottled with black. An irregular,
oblique, blackish line from the eye to the penultimate upper labial,
the pink temporal scales margined with black. Body coloured as in _D.
Kirtlandii_.
Total length 47 inches; the tail measuring 19 inches; length of the
cleft of the mouth 14 lines.
[Illustration:
App.Pl.C.
R.Mintern lith. Mintern Bros. imp.
CORONELLA TRITÆNIA.]
[Illustration:
App.Pl.D.
R. Mintern lith. Mintern Bros. imp.
DRYIOPHIS OATESII.]
IV.
ENTOMOLOGY.
By J. O. WESTWOOD, M.A., F.L.S., Etc.
Hope Professor of Zoology in the University of Oxford.
(PLATES E-H.)
The Collection of Insects formed by Mr. F. Oates, now in the
Entomological Museum of the University of Oxford, although not of
considerable extent, fortunately comprises examples of many of the very
peculiar groups and genera characteristic of the greater part of the
African continent.
The geographical distribution of animals has, during the last few
years, attracted so much attention among naturalists, that a few
preliminary observations on the subject will not be considered out of
place.
M. Lacordaire, in the chapter on the geographical distribution of
insects, in his “_Introduction à l’Entomologie_,” divided the
African continent into numerous regions, as follows:--1. Upper Egypt,
Nubia, and Abyssinia; 2. The country south of the Atlas Range, as far
as the Great Desert, and including Morocco; 3. Senegambia; 4. The coast
of Guinea; 5. Congo; 6. The Cape of Good Hope; 7. Madagascar; 8. The
islands of Mauritius and Bourbon.
In the still more recent works of Mr. Wallace on the geographical
distribution of animals, we find that (with the exception of the
whole of North Africa--including the northern half of Egypt and of
Arabia--which are united with the Mediterranean sub-region and regarded
as a portion of the primary Polar Arctic region) the remainder of
Africa, south of the tropic of Cancer, is constituted into a primary
region, to which the name of “Ethiopian” has been applied, and in which
the zoological productions are of a remarkably homogeneous character.
Of this Ethiopian region the portion which extends on the western side
of the continent, between the rivers Gambia and Congo, and consequently
embracing Guinea and the Gold Coast, and reaching as far as 25° East
long., is of a distinct character, being occupied by dense forests.
To this sub-region the name of “West African” has been applied.
Another sub-region, the “South African,” is formed of that part of the
continent south of the tropic of Capricorn, but extending northwards
along the east coast as far as Mozambique.
The remainder of Africa, from the tropic of Cancer to the river Gambia
on the west coast, and including Senegambia, Timbuctoo, South Egypt,
Abyssinia, the eastern half of Africa (including the great lakes,
and Zanzibar), and reaching from Mozambique on the east to Angola,
Benguela, and Damara Land on the west coast, is considered as forming
a third sub-region, to which the inappropriate name of “East Africa”
has been applied. It is in the south-eastern portion of this third
sub-region that the collection of insects formed by Mr. F. Oates was
obtained.
The surface of all this sub-region is described by Mr. A. R. Wallace
as “generally open, covered with a vegetation of high grasses or
thorny shrubs, with scattered trees and isolated patches of forest
in favourable situations. The only parts where continuous forests
occur are on the eastern and western slopes of the great Abyssinian
plateau, and on the Mozambique coast from Zanzibar to Sofala. The whole
of this great district has one general zoological character. Many
species range from Senegal to Abyssinia; others from Abyssinia to the
Zambesi; and a few, as _Mungos fasciatus_ and _Phacochærus æthiopicus_
(to which great numbers of species of insects may be added), range
over the entire sub-region.” Various species of quadrupeds and birds
are mentioned, which are found in Gambia, Abyssinia, and South-east
Africa, but not in the West African sub-region; and yet Mr. Wallace
adds, “Although this sub-region is so extensive and so generally
uniform in physical features, it is by far the least peculiar part
of Africa. It possesses, of course, all those wide-spread Ethiopian
types which inhabit every part of the region; but it has hardly any
special features of its own. The few genera which are peculiar to it
have generally a limited range, and for the most part belong either to
the isolated mountain-plateau of Abyssinia, which is almost as much
Polar-Arctic as Ethiopian, or to the woody districts of Mozambique,
where the fauna has more of a West or South African character.” Surely
these circumstances, if correctly stated, together with the fact
connected with the existence of the Great Sahara desert, extending
many hundred miles wide across Africa, lead to the conclusion that the
division of Africa south of the tropic of Cancer into three principal
areas is unnatural, and that, with the exception of the necessary
consequence of greater life-action within the tropics, there is so much
uniformity in the animal productions of Africa as to render it (with
our present knowledge at least) undesirable to cut up the continent
into these sub-regions.
Order LEPIDOPTERA.
The Lepidopterous insects (butterflies and moths) especially attracted
much of the attention of Mr. Oates; and of the day-flying species
(Rhopalocera) he collected seventy-three different kinds, of which
nineteen appear to be previously undescribed. As they form the most
important part of his collection, I have given a complete catalogue of
them in the following pages. These insects abound in certain districts,
and in Mr. Trimen’s work on South African butterflies, as many as 226
different species are recorded.
Species of the families Danaidæ, Satyridæ, Acræidæ, Nymphalidæ,
Lycænidæ, Pieridæ, Papilionidæ, and Hesperiidæ occur in each of the
three divisions into which Mr. Wallace has divided the continent south
of the Great Desert; but of the families Elymniidæ, Libytheidæ, and
Nemeobiidæ no species have been found in the South African sub-region,
which, however, possesses seven genera peculiar to itself,--two
belonging to the Satyridæ, one to the Acræidæ, three to the Lycænidæ,
and one to the Hesperiidæ. The beautiful species of Zeritis are also
peculiar to this sub-region; one additional species only inhabiting
West Africa.
Of the Danaidæ (including the greater part of the Heliconian
butterflies), species occur in each of the four Ethiopian sub-regions.
Of the Satyridæ, which also occur in all the four sub-regions,
Gnophodes, Leptoneura, and a few other small genera are exclusively
African. Of the Elymniidæ, which are peculiar to the Malayan and
Moluccan districts, one species also occurs in Ashanti. The Morphidæ,
Brassolidæ, and typical Heliconiidæ do not occur in Africa; the
Acræidæ, on the contrary, have their metropolis in this continent,
which produces more than two-thirds of all the known species. Of the
Nymphalidæ, which is the largest and most universally distributed
family of butterflies, species occur in all the sub-regions of Africa.
There are fourteen genera of these butterflies exclusively African,
including Lachnoptera, Amphidema, Catuna, Euryphene, Romaleosoma,
Aterica, and Harma. Libythea (constituting the family Libytheidæ) is
widely distributed, and occurs in Western Africa and Madagascar, but
not in Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. Such is also the case
with the family Nemeobiidæ. No representative of the family Erycinidæ
(proper) occurs in the old world or Australia. The Lycænidæ, on the
other hand, are found in all the sub-regions of the globe, the genera
Pentila, Liptena, D’Urbania, Axiocerces, Capys, Phytala, Epitola,
Hewitsonia, and Deloneura, being peculiar to Africa. Of the family
Pieridæ, Teracolus and Pseudopontia are the only genera exclusively
African; but the species of other genera are very numerous, especially
in the group of white butterflies with orange tips to their fore wings.
The family Papilionidæ are very widely distributed over all the warmer
regions of the globe; and although no peculiar genus belonging to the
family is found in Africa, there are several very interesting groups of
species, such as _Pap. Nireus_ and its allies, with black wings
spotted or banded with green. The Merope group, with its cream-coloured
males, spotted with black and furnished with tails, is remarkable for
having tailless females in South Africa, so much unlike their partners
as to have been described as several distinct species; whereas in
Madagascar the females of this group can scarcely be distinguished
either in form or colours from the males. Lastly, of the Hesperiidæ,
distributed all over the globe, thirteen of the genera contain species
which are natives of Africa, three of them being peculiar to that
region--namely Abantis, from Mozambique, Ceratrichia, Butler, from
Western Africa, and Caprona, Wallengren, from Southern Africa.
_LEPIDOPTERA RHOPALOCERA._
Family PAPILIONIDÆ.
Genus PAPILIO, Auct.
1. (1) PAPILIO DEMOLEUS, _Linnæus_.
_Papilio Demodocus_, Esper.
Ranges from Western Tropical Africa to the Cape of Good Hope.
Genus CALLIDRYAS, Boisduval; E. Doubleday, Gen. D. Lep. p. 66.
_Catopsilia_, W. F. Kirby, Syn. Cat. p. 481.[76]
2. (1) CALLIDRYAS SWAINSONII, Westw.
_Colias Pyrene_, Swainson, Zool. Ill. vol. i. pl. 51. (Not of
Linnæus, which is an Indian species, belonging to the genus
_Thestias_, Boisduval.)
_Callidryas Pyrene_, Butler, Lep. Exot. pl. 16, f. 8–10.
_Callidryas Florella_, Boisduval; Trimen, Rhopal. Afr. Austr. p.
68; but not of Fabricius nor Donovan, Nat. Repos. III. pl. 90.
Many individuals of this species were taken at the Motloutsi River,
varying in having the black spot of the disc of the fore wings, and
the orange spots on the under side of the hind wings. A specimen from
Guinea, received by Mr. Hope from Mr. Westermann of Copenhagen as the
_Florella_, Fabr., is identical with the South African specimens
of Swainson’s species. The type specimen described by Fabricius,
drawn by Jones (Icones, v. 2, Dan. Cand. pl. 5, f. 3, 4), copied by
Donovan, is from Sierra Leone, and was, and still is, in the Banksian
Collection. _C. Swainsonii_ is very widely dispersed.
3. (2) CALLIDRYAS RHADIA, Boisduval; Trimen, p. 69.
_Callidryas Castalia_, E. Doubleday, Gen. D. Lep. p. 68 (not of
Fabricius).
Two specimens captured at Tati. The Rev. H. Rowley sent it from the
Zambesi to the Oxford Museum.
Genus TERACOLUS, Swainson.
4. (1) TERACOLUS SUBFASCIATUS, Swainson, Zool. Ill. 2 ser. Ins.
pl. 115[77]; Boisduval; Trimen.
_Ptychopteryx Bohemanni_, Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 18.
Originally described from the Burchell Collection now at Oxford. Six
specimens from Tati. The species appears to be very rare, as Mr. Trimen
had not seen an individual. The female has the extremity of the fore
wings brilliant orange-red, instead of pale orange-yellow, as figured
by Swainson.
5. (2) TERACOLUS AGOYE, Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 15; Trimen,
p. 325.
_Anthocharis Eosphorus_, Trimen, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1863, p. 523.
One specimen. Locality not noted.
Genus PIERIS, Auct.
6. (1) PIERIS MESENTINA, Cramer, pl. 270, f. A, B; Godart;
Boisduval; Trimen, p. 35.
_Papilio Aurota_, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. III. i. 197.
Many specimens taken at Bamangwato, the Motloutsi River, Tati,
Gubuleweyo, Inyati (November 30, 1873), the Gwailo River, and at or
near the Victoria Falls.
7. (2) PIERIS SEVERINA, Cramer, pl. 338, f. G, H; Godart;
Boisduval; Trimen, p. 32.
Two specimens, of unrecorded locality.
Genus IDMAIS, Boisduval.
8. (1) IDMAIS ERIS, Klug, Symbol. Phys. t. 6, f. 15, 16;
Boisduval; Reiche in Ferret and Galinier, Voy. Abyss. pl. 31, f.
1–3; Trimen, p. 59.
Var. _Idmais Fatma_, Felder, Reise Novara, pl. 25, f. 3.
Tati; and the Ramaqueban River, July 29, 1874.
9. (2) IDMAIS VESTA? Reiche in Ferret and Galinier’s Voy.
Abyss. pl. 31, f. 7, 8. (Not of Trimen, p. 62, which = _Idmais
Chrysonome_, E. Doubleday, Gen. D. Lep. pl. 7, fig. 5; nor of
Klug nor Boisduval = _Idmais Hewitsoni_, Kirby, Syn. Cat. p.
498.)
The specimens collected by Mr. Oates have the base of all the wings on
the upper side broadly white, the remainder ochreous buff, with a large
dark brown spot at the extremity of the discoidal cell of the fore
wings, a dark brown, very irregular bisinuated fascia running across
the fore wings beyond the middle, and extending across the middle of
the hind wings, nearly reaching the anal angle; the outer margin of
the fore wings is dark brown, with two rows of ochreous buff spots,
the outer ones small; the outer margin of the hind wings is brown,
inwardly dentated, with a marginal row of ochre spots. Beneath, the
fore wings are bright orange-yellow at the base, yellow in the middle,
with the apex and the entire hind wings brownish ochre, the markings
of the fore wings ill defined, and with three obscure bands across the
hind wings. In the female the ground colour of the upper surface of
the wings is uniformly pale yellowish buff. The fascia across the hind
wings separates this species from _Chrysonome_ Dbd., _Vesta_
of Trimen. M. Reiche’s figure apparently represents a larger and more
suffused insect, the under side especially being more variegated, and
the ground colour of the hind wings bright yellow.
Genus TACHYRIS, Wallengren.
10. (1) TACHYRIS AGATHINA, Cramer, pl. 237, f. D, E; Godart;
Boisduval; Trimen, p. 28; Hopffer in Peters’s Reise Mossamb. t.
21, f. 11, 12.
_Pieris Thysa_, Hopffer in Peters’s Reise Mossamb. t. 21, f.
7–10.
Near the Victoria Falls, in January.
Genus CALLOSUNE, E. Doubleday, Gen. D. Lep. p. 57.
11. (1) CALLOSUNE EUPOMPE, Klug, Symb. Phys. t. 6, f. 11–14;
Boisduval; Trimen, p. 45.
_Papilio Evippe_, Cramer, pl. 91, f. D, E. (nec Linn.).
_Pontia Acaste_, Klug, Symb. Phys. pl. 7, f. 16, 17.
_Pieris Polycaste_, Boisduval.
_Anthopsyche Theopompe_, Felder, Reise Novara, ii. p. 183. no.
175.
Motloutsi River, August 1873.
12. (2) CALLOSUNE DANAË, Fabricius; Donovan, Ins. India, t. 26,
f. 2; Boisduval; E. Doubleday, Gen. D. Lep. pl. 7, f. 2; Trimen,
p. 44.
_Papilio Eborea_, Cramer, pl. 352, f. C-F.
This handsome species inhabits Natal, Damara Land, Ceylon, Bengal,
Madras. Male, Inyati (November 30, 1873); females, near the Gwailo
River (October 19, 1873), and Impakwe River (February 12, 1874).
13. (3) CALLOSUNE EVIPPE, Linnæus; Clerck, Icones, pl. 40, f. 5;
Cramer, pl. 91, f. F, G; Godart; Boisduval; Lucas, Exot. Lep.
pl. 37, f. 1.
Tati; and between Inyati and Gubuleweyo, December 1, 1873.
14. (4) CALLOSUNE OMPHALE, Godart; Boisduval; Trimen, p. 50.
Near the Victoria Falls, in January.
15. (5) CALLOSUNE ANTIGONE, Boisduval, Sp. Gén. p. 572; Trimen,
p. 52.
Both sexes, Ramaqueban River, February 14, 1874; also females at the
Gwailo River in October. These females have no orange on the upper side
of the fore wings.
16. (6) CALLOSUNE CASTA, Gerstaecker in Decken’s Reisen in
Ost-Afrika, pl. 15, f. 1, 1 a.
Taken at Tati.
17. (7) CALLOSUNE KEISKAMMA, Trimen, p. 56, pl. 2, f. 3, 4.
Var. _Anthopsyche Topha_, Wallengren, Wien. ent. Mon. iv. p. 34.
Ramaqueban River, July 28, 1874. Kirby cites Klug’s _Pontia
Evarne_, Symb. Phys. t. 6, f. 1–4, as identical with this species,
but the rounded fore wings of the male, with the black exterior margin,
and the submarginal row of black spots on the hind wings, at once
separate these two insects. See the observations of Mr. Weale on this
subject (Trans. Ent. Soc. 1877, p. 273).
18. (8) CALLOSUNE INORNATA, Westw.
Alis supra albis, basi nigro parum pulverosis, anticis macula
trigona distincta apicali aurantia: alis anticis infra albis
apice albido-lutescenti, intus magis brunnea; alis posticis
lutescenti-albidis, linea recta longitudinali media paullo obscuriori.
Expans. alar. antic. lin. 19.
The locality of this very simply coloured species is not recorded.
19. (9) CALLOSUNE IONE, Godart; Boisduval; Lucas, Exot. Lep. t.
37, f. 4; Reiche in Ferr. and Gal. Voy. Abyss. t. 30, f. 1–8;
Hopffer in Peters’s Reise Mossamb. t. 21, f. 1–6; Trimen, p. 43.
_Anthopsyche speciosa_, Wallengren, p. 16.
_Anthocharis Erone_, Angas, Kafirs Ill. pl. 30, f. 3.
Two males, taken at Tati.
The species of this genus, in which the males have the extremity of
the fore wings marked with a brilliant blue or pale purple patch, are
so closely allied together as to suggest the possibility of their
being geographical sub-species; they appear indeed to be constant in
their characteristic markings, and the females are even more distinct
than the males, which they are generally so unlike that their sexual
relations might readily be suspected.
In the male specimens of _C. Ione_, captured by Mr. Oates at Tati,
the fore wings have the faintest trace of a very minute black discoidal
dot, a brilliant silky purple subapical patch, the apex itself black,
and the inner edge margined with black, which is slightly scalloped.
The hind wings are pure white, with delicate black veins, without
any discoidal spot. On the under side the fore wings have the minute
discoidal dot, and the apical patch is replaced by pale greyish buff,
with a slightly defined darker inner margin; the veins of the hind
wings are not black, the basal half of the costa is orange, with a
short brownish transverse dash, near the middle of the costa, extending
only to the first branch of the subcostal vein; the remainder of the
wing white. One of the specimens taken by Mr. Oates at Tati is very
small (1⅔ inch in the expanse of the fore wings), with the black veins
excessively slender.
20. (10) CALLOSUNE REGINA, Trimen, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1863, p.
520. (Plate E, figs. 9, 10.)
The males have the veins of the fore wings, beyond the middle, very
slender and black, and with a very minute discoidal dot. The female of
this species, here for the first time represented (Pl. E, figs. 9, 10),
has the wings on the upper side white, with the veins concolorous; a
large black round spot at the extremity of the discoidal cell, and a
large purple-red subapical spot, down the middle of which is a richer
shade of purple, edged internally with blackish brown, the apex and
apical margin being of the latter colour; the base of the wings is
slightly powdered with grayish scales, and there are two minute dusky
dots towards the inner angle of the fore wings. On the under side
the purple patch of the fore wings is replaced by dirty pale buff,
having an oblique row of five pale black spots, and the hind wings are
slightly fleshy buff coloured, finely freckled all over with pale brown
irrorations, with a discoidal spot, and a curved row of oblong spots
beyond the middle of the wing, of pale brown; the costal margin is
slightly fulvous at its base. The expansion of the fore wings is 2⁵⁄₁₂
inches. Taken at Tati.
A male, in the Hopeian collection, from the Zambesi, has the hind wings
marked along the outer margin with black dots at the extremity of the
longitudinal veins.
21. (11) CALLOSUNE THEOGONE, Boisduval; Trimen, p. 51.
One specimen. Locality not recorded.
22. (12) CALLOSUNE BUXTONI. (Plate E, figs. 7, 8.)
_Callosune Buxtoni_, Butler, MS. in British Museum.
The female (or rather the reputed female) of this species here figured
differs from the male in having a large orange patch at the extremity
of the fore wings, which are white with a slight yellowish tinge; a
minute discoidal black dot and a curved row of brown spots within the
orange mark, those towards the costa being most indistinct; the inner
margin of the orange mark is also brownish, as is the apex itself and
the apical margin, the brownish margin terminating near the hinder
angle in a brownish spot; the hind wings are uniformly white, with the
extremity of the veins towards the outer angle more or less dusky. On
the under side the orange spot of the fore wings wants both the inner
and apical dark edging, and bears a curved row of brown spots; the hind
wings are very pale fleshy buff, and very delicately freckled, with
a bar of darker brown extending from the middle of the costa to the
median vein, where it is curved backwards; there is also a brown dot
on a small whitish spot near the extremity of the discoidal cell. The
female varies from 1¾ to 2¼ inches in the expansion of the fore wings.
Taken at Tati.
23. (13) CALLOSUNE EVENINA, Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 12;
Trimen, p. 322, and in Trans. Ent. Soc. 1870, t. 6, f. 11.
One specimen (locality not noted), with the black markings on the upper
surface of the wings much less diffused than in the figure given by
Mr. Trimen; possibly a male. Another specimen in Burchell’s African
collection, in the Hopeian Museum, has the large dark spot on the fore
wings extending over the discoidal cell, but the hind wings are almost
unspotted.
24. (14) CALLOSUNE EIONE, Boisduval, p. 578.
One broken specimen, without locality, is very closely allied to the
insects noticed above, as _C. Antigone_.
25. (15) CALLOSUNE PSEUDETRIDA, Westw.
Alis supra pallide flavescentibus, apice fusco cum serie subapicali
macularum 6 aurantiacarum, puncto minuto nigro discoidali, nubilaque
parva fusca ante angulum posticum; alis posticis serie marginali
macularum conoidearum fuscis (versus angulum analem interdum obsoletis)
nubila parva pone medium costæ, fasciaque valde abbreviata pone medium
disci versus angulum externum, pallide fuscis: alis anticis infra
pallide flavescentibus, apice alisque posticis luteo-albidis; anticis
striga obsoleta et obliqua fuscescenti versus apicem, posticis punctis
duobus fuscescentibus pone medium disci versus angulum externum.
Expans. alar. antic. unc. 1, lin 5.
Affinis _C. Deuræ_, Klug, et præsertim _C. Etridæ_ (Indiæ orientalis
incolæ).
Habitat prope Tati.
_Obs._ The orange subapical spots in the male are dilated into a
broader yellow fascia in the female.
26. (16) CALLOSUNE WALLENGRENII. (Plate E, figs. 3, 4.)
_Callosune Wallengrenii_, Butler, MS. in British Museum.
Alis supra albis; anticarum apice late aurantiaco; puncto discoidali,
striga angulata guttarum fuscarum pone medium apiceque fusco, intus ad
venas angulatim producto; alis posticis pone medium fascia abbreviata
e maculis fuscis formata, margineque postico fusco-maculato. Expans.
alar. antic. unc. 1⁵⁄₁₂.
Habitat ad ripas Touani fluv.; mense Augusto capta.
The wings on the upper side are white, with a slight yellow tinge, the
apical half being of a fine orange-red colour; the base is suffused
with brown scales; a round black dot is placed at the extremity of the
discoidal cell, in front of which the costa is dusky; half way between
the cell and the apex is an oblique row of four brown spots, succeeded
by a larger one, extending more towards the base of the wing, which is
followed by a double spot towards the middle of the hind margin; the
apical margin is brown, which colour extends upwards along the veins,
forming a row of brown teeth, the largest of which is at the end of the
first branch of the median vein; the hind wings are powdered with brown
scales at the base; beyond the middle of the wing is a curved row of
brown spots, extending from the costa to the middle, and with a row of
brown spots along the outer margin. On the under side the fore wings
are suffused with orange, preceding the row of subapical spots, the
apical portion being buff, which is also the colour of the hind wings,
which have a white spot in the centre surrounded by a brown ring, and
followed by a curved row of pale brown spots, rather more dilated and
somewhat ocellated in the middle of the row; the apical margin of all
the wings is destitute of the brown markings of the upper side.
27. (17) CALLOSUNE RAMAQUEBANA, Westw. (Plate E, figs. 5, 6.)
Parvus alis supra albis, albo-ciliatis anticis plaga maxima fusca
marginis postici, puncto nigro discoidali, apiceque late fusco,
serie macularum fulvarum inclusa; alis posticis basi fuscis, margine
postico late fusco, serie macularum albarum plus minusve confluentium,
præsertim versus angulum analem, inclusa: alis subtus flavido-tinctis,
posticis puncto minuto discoidali nigro, flavo supra tincto. Fœm. supra
absque colore fulvo. Expans. alar. antic. unc. 1⅓.
Habitat prope Ramaqueban fluv.; mense Februario capta.
This pretty little species appears to be undescribed. It is nearly
allied to _C. Etrida_ and _Eione_, but differs in its characteristic
markings. On the upper side the wings of the male are white, with a
very slight yellowish tinge; the anterior have a large brown patch
occupying the greater portion of the posterior margin, and extending
over the greater part of the discoidal cell, at the extremity of which
is a small round black spot; the extremity of the wing is very broadly
brown, the dark colour commencing on the costal margin in front of
the discoidal spot, and extending nearly to the posterior angle of
the wing, where it is much narrowed, especially in the spaces between
the anal vein and the first and second branches of the median vein,
extending considerably more forward between the second and third
branches of the latter, so as nearly to unite with the truncated
extremity of the large brown patch; the brown apex of the wing bears a
row of five fulvous oval spots, the hind one of which is ill defined
and less strongly coloured: the hind wings are brown at the base, and
beyond the middle they are marked with a curved irregular brown bar,
which is partially connected with the brown spotted hind margin of the
wing, having a row of white spots between them, which become larger and
more or less confluent, especially towards the anal angle. On the under
side the fore wings are tinged with yellow, especially towards the
tips, the large brown markings of the upper side being nearly obsolete:
the hind wings are also yellowish, with a faint dusky fascia beyond the
middle, with a black discoidal spot surmounted with yellow scales; the
costa at the base is bright yellow, and the fringe of all the wings
is white. The female is slightly larger, with the brown markings more
suffused, the orange spots of the fore wings obsolete, and replaced
by brown, and the white submarginal spots of the hind wings almost
obliterated and replaced with brown.
Genus TERIAS, Swainson.
_Eurema_, Kirby, Syn. Cat. (haud recte).
28. (1) TERIAS RAHEL, Fabricius; Godart; Boisduval; Trimen, p.
76.
Ramaqueban River, February; near the Victoria Falls in January; and
near the Dry River, beginning of March.
29. (2) TERIAS ZOË, Hopffer in Peters’s Reise Mossamb. pl. 23,
f. 10; female.
Mas. Alis supra minus saturate atomosis, posticis limbo nigro omnino
carentibus et unicoloribus.
Near the Ramaqueban River, in February.
30. (3) TERIAS SERULI, Westw.
Alis supra pallide flavis, anticis apice macula trigona fusca intus
parum curvata integra, ante angulum posticum desinente; angulo extremo
apicali pallescenti; alis posticis immaculatis: alis anticis subtus
flavis, costa, apice, alisque posticis carneo-lutescentibus, omnibus
immaculatis. Expans. alar. antic. fere 1½ unc.
Habitat ad ripas Seruli fluv.; mense Augusto capta.
Family ACRÆIDÆ.
Genus ACRÆA, Fabricius.
31. (1) ACRÆA ATERGATIS, Westw. (Plate F, figs. 1, 2.)
Alis supra rufo-aurantiis, nigro-maculatis, anticis apice nigro et
sub apicem nigro-lineatis margine apicali omnium nigro. Expansio alar.
antic. unc. 2¹⁄₁₂.
Habitat prope “Victoria Falls;” mense Januario capta.
The upper side of the wings is of a rich orange-red colour, the base
of all the wings slightly powdered with black atoms; a black spot
is placed in the middle of the cell of the fore wings, followed by
a smaller transverse one at the extremity of the cell; at a little
distance beyond the cell is a short black, rather oblique fascia,
formed of five more or less confluent spots, the innermost being
incurved and placed between the 2d and 3d branches of the median
vein; this last spot is succeeded by two other spots, the three being
parallel with the apical margin of the wing; there is also a minute
round dot towards the base of the wing behind the basal part of the
median vein, and two small dots near the inner angle; the veins are
black in the apical part of the wing, with the interstices between
the veins marked with thin black lines, the margin itself as well as
the apex of the wing being also black; the hind wings are marked with
twelve round black spots; the six outer ones arranged in a very waved
line; the margin is also black. On the under side the fore wings are
of a more rosy tint, except towards the apex, where they are more
orange; the spots of the upper side are here reproduced: the hind wings
on this side are more variegated; the black spots are more numerous,
being about 18 in number, several close to the base of the wing being
visible, which are not seen on the upper side; the spots are placed on
pale greyish buff spaces, which gives them an ocellated appearance;
and the outer margin of the wing is pale greyish buff with a very thin
black marginal line, preceded by very thin black lunules, the veins
rather thickened and black along the margin, the spaces between the
veins being rosy red in the part of the wing between the terminal row
of spots and the lunules. Antennæ black; palpi fulvous, with the last
joint black; body black, spotted with white and rose-colour; legs
fulvous, tarsi black; abdomen, above black with thin yellowish edges to
the segments, each of which has two fulvous spots, beneath fulvous with
two rows of black specks.
Another specimen, which I cannot distinguish specifically from the
preceding, was also taken at the Victoria Falls in January 1875, and
has the upper surface of the wings rather brighter orange-red, with
two minute additional black dots within the discoidal cell, at about
half its length from the base, and with the abdomen orange-fulvous, the
three basal segments on the upper side being alone black, varied with
orange. The apical margin of the fore wings in this specimen is not so
rounded as in the other with the spotted abdomen, which is evidently a
female, the probability being that the male has the wings rather less
rounded and the abdomen not spotted.
32. (2) ACRÆA ATOLMIS, Westw. (Plate F, figs. 3, 4.)
Alis supra aurantiacis basi nigricantibus, maculis nigris minutis
notatis, anticarum apice venis nigris margineque tenuissimo nigro
maculaque postica prope angulum posticum posita. Expans. alar. antic.
unc. 1¹¹⁄₁₂.
Habitat prope “Victoria Falls;” mense Januario capta.
This species is smaller than the preceding, with the various black
markings very small, the interspaces of the apical portion of the
fore wings not striolated with black, and the posterior spot of the
fore wings placed just between the preceding spot and the hind angle
of the wing. The upper surface of the wings is uniformly orange, with
the basal half rather redder, the base itself being suffused with
black scales; within the discoidal cell is a small kidney-shaped black
spot, followed by a narrow oblique one at the extremity of the cell;
behind this (between the 1st and 2d branches of the median vein) is
another spot, and between the latter and the posterior angle of the
wing is a third, the three forming nearly a straight row; beyond the
discoidal cell is a short oblique row of small black dots, between
which and the apical margin of the wing the veins are black: the hind
wings have a small black dot within the discoidal cell, and a curved
row of six small black dots across the wing close to the extremity of
the cell; the hind margin is very slenderly black, and the veins also
have their apical portions black. The wings beneath are of an uniform
rosy buff-colour, with the black spots more numerous and distinct than
above, the hind wings having about 18 small but distinct ones, those at
the base and near the anal margin not visible above; the apical margin
of all the wings is very slenderly black, the hind wings having no
trace of the lunular markings of the preceding and following species.
Body black, sides of thorax with yellowish buff spots; abdomen buff,
with the basal segments dusky above.
_Note_.--In the engraving the apical margin of the fore wings is
represented rather too much rounded.
33. (3) ACRÆA AXINA, Westw. (Plate F, figs. 5, 6.)
Alis supra luteo-fulvis, nigro-maculatis, posticis magis aurantiacis;
anticarum apice, lineolisque abbreviatis apicalibus (inter venas)
nigricantibus; alis posticis maculis minoribus, exterioribus lineam
irregularem multo pone medium alæ formantibus, margine externo nigro.
Expans. alar. antic. unc. 1⅚.
Habitat prope Tati et Gwailo fluv.; mense Octobre capta.
This small species has the upper side of the fore wings rather dirty
luteo-fulvous, that of the hind wings being brighter coloured. The
extremity of the fore wings and the narrow apical margin are black, and
the interspaces between the veins near the apex of the wings are marked
with slender abbreviated black lines, leaving a narrow paler space
beyond the fascia; the five spots between the base and the middle of
the wings are strongly marked, and the abbreviated oblique black fascia
beyond the cell is more continuous: the hind wings have the black spots
also well marked, the outer ones forming an irregular row considerably
beyond the middle of the wing, the central spot especially being not
far from the black marginal border. On the under side the fore wings
are slightly rosy, the apical portion being more buff with the spaces
between the veins orange; the black spots on this side are not so
strongly marked as above: the hind wings are more pale buff, with the
spaces between the veins strongly marked with rose-colour, the black
spots resting on pale spaces, giving them an ocellated appearance; the
very narrow black outer margin of these wings is preceded by a series
of small black arches, including a row of pale yellow spots. The palpi,
head, and sides of the body are coloured as in the preceding species;
the abdomen in one of our specimens is broken off, but in the other it
is pale buff, with the upper side of the basal segments black, with two
pale dots, indicating (as well as the shape of the fore wings) this
individual (represented in our figures) to be of the male sex.
_Note_.--The orange and rosy tints described above are almost
obliterated in one of the two specimens, most probably from
longer exposure in the winged state.
34. (4) ACRÆA ACONTIAS, Westw. (Plate F, figs. 7, 8.)
Alis supra obscure fusco-rufis, nigro-maculatis, maculis 4 in medio
alarum anticarum, fascia abbreviata maculari, margine apicali late
venisque apicalibus nigris; alis posticis basi maculisque submediis
lineam irregularem formantibus, margineque postico cum venis nigris.
Expans. alar. antic. unc. 1⅚.
Habitat prope “Victoria Falls;” mense Januario capta.
The dull brownish red colouring of the upper side of the wings
distinguishes this species. The fore wings are marked near the base,
behind the middle of the cell, with a small black dot, followed by four
rather large spots of the same colour, placed so as to form an oblique
triangle; beyond the cell is the ordinary abbreviated fascia, formed
of four black spots, which is succeeded by a narrow paler buff space,
the apex being traversed by black veins, the extremity of the anterior
margin and the whole of the apical margin being also black: the hind
wings have a suffused black spot near the base, the middle of the wing
being crossed by zigzag rows of small but nearly uniform black spots;
the outer margin is black, as are the veins beyond the middle of the
wing. On the under side the fore wings are more rosy coloured from the
base to the abbreviated fascia, beyond which they are paler buff, with
orange stripes between the veins: the hind wings have the black dots
smaller but more numerous than on the upper side, there being about
20 on each wing, the ground colour of which is buff, with the spaces
between the veins in the basal portion rosy, but beyond the cell they
are marked with longitudinal orange stripes between the veins; the
outer margin is very narrowly black, preceded by a very narrow black
line parallel with the margin. The body is black, much spotted at the
sides below the wings with buff and rosy; the abdomen is orange, marked
above with black fasciæ, forming more or less incomplete lateral
circular spots; the ventral surface yellow, with two rows of black
spots. The apical margin of the fore wings is but slightly convex, but
the spotting of the abdomen indicates the specimen to be a female.
35. (5) ACRÆA AGLAONICE, Westw. (Plate F, figs. 9, 10.)
Alis supra rufo-puniceis, anticis apicem versus magis aurantiacis,
macula fenestrata bipartita subapicali notatis, nigro-maculatis, venis
apicalibus nigris; posticis maculis minutis margineque latiori apicali
nigris. Expans. alar. antic. unc. 2¹⁄₁₂.
Habitat prope Tati.
This species has the upper surface of the wings more richly
coloured than any of the others captured by Mr. Oates, being of an
orange-carmine colour, especially in the hind wings. The fore wings
are marked half-way between the end of the discoidal cell and the tip
of the wings with a square vitreous spot, through which runs a veinlet
dividing it into two parts; the base of the wings, especially in the
hind parts, is irrorated with black scales; the discoidal cell has a
rather large oval black spot beyond its middle, followed by a smaller
lunate one at the extremity of the cell; beyond which is an oblique
row of five conjoined black dots; another round black spot is placed
towards the base of the wing behind the median vein, and two other
circular ones behind the extremity of the cell placed transversely; the
veins at the extremity of the wings are slenderly black: the hind wings
are marked with about 10 minute black dots (varying, however, in size),
and the hind margin of the wing is rather broadly edged with black. On
the under side the fore wings are rosy coloured, with the spots of the
upper side, including the vitreous spot, reproduced: the hind wings are
greyish buff, with the spaces between the veins varied with rosy at the
base and along the anal margin, and with rich orange between the middle
of the wing and the row of submarginal black lunules, which latter rest
upon a narrow yellowish buff margin; the spots on this side, about 17
in number, are distinct, appearing partially ocellated. Body black,
with rosy spots behind the eyes and on the sides of the chest, which is
also spotted with pale buff; palpi orange, terminal joint black; legs
orange, tarsi black; abdomen broken off.
The unique specimen of this species collected by Mr. Oates has the
abdomen mutilated, but the structure of the fore legs and the shape of
the fore wings prove that it is a male individual.
36. (6) ACRÆA ACRONYCTA, Westw. (Plate F, figs. 11, 12.)
Alis supra luteo-aurantiacis; anticis triente basali fusco; macula ad
apicem cellulæ, pone medium alæ fascia abbreviata maculari, maculisque
duabus posticis (margine postico parallelis) nigris; alis posticis
magis albidis, ante medium nigro-maculatis, margineque postico latiori
nigro: subtus maculis magis distinctis margineque albido-maculato.
Expans. alar. antic. unc. 1¾.
Habitat ----?
The upper surface of the wings (especially the hind pair) of this
species is whitish orange, the base being strongly suffused with dark
brown scales hiding the spots in that part; one of these, near the
extremity of the discoidal cell, is visible, and the cell itself is
closed by a semicircular spot, followed at a short distance by an
oblique abbreviated black fascia formed of conjoined spots, of which
the hinder one is smallest and most distinct; two other spots appear on
the disc of the wing behind the extremity of the cell, and are placed
nearly parallel with the apical margin, which is very narrowly black
and slightly concave: the hind wings have a somewhat more suffused
whitish hue than the anterior; they are brown at the base, and are
marked before the middle with an irregular series of black dots,
followed by two minute ones beyond the middle; the posterior margin is
widely black. On the under side the fore wings have five black spots
in the middle, followed by the abbreviated macular fascia: the hind
wings are more tinged with rose-colour than the anterior ones, and are
marked with about twelve black dots of different sizes; the posterior
margin is pale yellowish white, surmounted by a row of black arches,
resting upon a very narrow black edging. The head and body are black,
spotted with pale buff, the sides of the thorax beneath the wings with
a reddish spot; the abdomen is nearly white, the basal segments on the
upper side black, with a pair of round white dots.
37. (7) ACRÆA AMPHIMALLA, Westw. (Plate E, figs. 1, 2.)
Alis supra fulvo vel puniceo luteis nigro-guttatis, anticarum apice
late nigro triangulariter terminata, posticarum margine apicali e
lunulis nigris, maculis concoloribus inclusis, notato. Expans. alar.
antic. unc. 1¾–2¹⁄₁₂.
(An _Acræa Caldarene_ alicujus?)
Habitat prope Tati, et marg. fluv. Motloutsi; mense Maio capta.
This very distinct species has the wings on the upper side of a buff
colour, varying from dull orange to reddish; the black spots are of
small size, and the fore wings have the apex broadly and triangularly
black, whilst the hind wings have the slender apical outer black margin
preceded by a series of slender depressed black arches enclosing
spots of the ground colour of the wing; the ordinary black spot in
the middle of the discoidal cell is sometimes preceded by a smaller,
more or less slightly marked, dot, behind which is another small one;
the cell is partially closed by a small oblique black spot, followed
at some distance by a row of four small spots placed obliquely, and
there are two other small spots between the middle of the wing and
the posterior angle, the outer one being occasionally duplicated; in
the hind wings the black spots, about twelve in number, are of nearly
uniform small size. On the under side the black apex of the upper side
is replaced by the ground colour of the rest of the wing, the spaces
between the veins being more strongly marked with orange stripes: the
hind wings are buff-coloured, with the spaces between the veins in the
basal portion marked with red, having the black dots (about twenty in
number) surrounded with buff, whilst in the apical half of the wing
the intervening spaces are more orange; the black arcade preceding the
slender outer black edging is marked more distinctly than on the upper
side. The head and body are spotted as in the preceding species.
38. (8) ACRÆA NATALICA, Boisduval in Delegorgue’s Voy. Afr.
Austr. ii. p. 590; Hopffer in Peters’s Reise Mossamb. pl. 23,
figs. 12, 13.
_Acræa Bellua_, Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 22.
_Acræa Hypatia_, var. B, Trimen, p. 98.
A series of small specimens, measuring only 2 inches in expanse of the
fore wings, were taken at Tati. A large specimen (2¾ inches expanse)
was taken near the Dry River in the beginning of March, and one (2½
inches expanse) was taken near the Motloutsi River in August.
39. (9) ACRÆA ANEMOSA, Hewitson, Ex. Butt. t. 3, Acr. 3, f. 14,
15.
Near the Umvungu River, end of October; and near the Victoria Falls in
January.
40. (10) ACRÆA NEOBULE, E. Doubleday and Hewitson, Gen. D. Lep.
pl. 19, f. 3; Reiche in Ferr. and Gal. Voy. Abyss. pl. 33, f. 3,
4.
An var. _Acræa Mahela_, Boisduval, Faune Madag. pl. 6, f. 1?
Ramaqueban River, February 14, 1874.
41. (11) ACRÆA RAHIRA, Boisduval, Faune Madag. pl. 5, f. 4, 5;
Trimen, p. 103.
Taken on the Zambesi road, end of November.
42. (12) ACRÆA DIRCÆA, Westw.
Alis supra fulvis, puniceo interdum tinctis; anticarum apice late
nigris maculisque 9 parvis nigris, 4 in lineam obliquam pone medium
positis; alis posticis maculis circiter 14 parvis nigris discoidalibus,
margine tenui nigro fulvo-maculato: alis subtus pallidioribus, apice
anticarum lutescenti, fulvo-strigoso; maculis nigris parum majoribus
præsertim in alis posticis, interstitiis rubro-maculatis. Expans. alar.
antic. unc. 2.
_Acr. Oncææ_ affinis sed apice lato nigro alarum anticarum optime
distincta.
Numerous specimens taken at Tati and the Motloutsi River in May.
Family NYMPHALIDÆ.
Genus CHARAXES, Ochsenheimer.
43. (1) CHARAXES PELIAS, Cramer, pl. 3, f. C, D; Godart; Trimen,
p. 175; Butler, Lep. Exot. pl. 10, f. 5.
Near the Seruli River, August 19, 1873; and near the Victoria Falls in
January.
Genus CYNTHIA, Fabricius.
44. (1) CYNTHIA CARDUI, Linnæus.
Taken at the Indunas’ Tree, near the Umvungu River, end of November.
Genus JUNONIA, Hübner.
45. (1) JUNONIA CLELIA, Cramer, pl. 21, f. E, F; Trimen, p. 128.
Bamangwato, Ramaqueban River, Gubuleweyo, and near Tati.
46. (2) JUNONIA ŒNONE, Linnæus: Cramer, pl. 35, f. A, C; Trimen,
p. 125.
Tati, Ramaqueban River, and about the Matengwe River.
47. (3) JUNONIA ORITHYA, Linnæus: Cramer, pl. 19, f. C, D, pl.
32, f. E, F, and pl. 290, f. A, B. Common in India, etc.
This species, not included in Trimen’s work, was taken near the
Victoria Falls in the month of January. The Hopeian collection also has
it from Sierra Leone.
48. (4) JUNONIA OCTAVIA, Cramer, pl. 135, f. B, C; Trimen, p.
130.
Near the Victoria Falls in January.
49. (5) JUNONIA NATALICA, Felder, Wien. ent. Mon. iv. p. 106.
_Junonia Hecate_, Trimen, p. 140.
Near the Victoria Falls in January.
50. (6) JUNONIA CLOANTHA, Cramer, pl. 338, f. A, B; Trimen, p.
137.
Near the Dry River, middle of March.
Genus DIADEMA, Boisduval.
51. (1) DIADEMA MISIPPUS, Linnæus.
Fœm. var. _Papilio Inaria_, Cramer, pl. 214, f. A, B.
Near the Victoria Falls; also from Sierra Leone, the Zambesi, and
Mauritius, in the Hopeian collection.
Genus ATERICA, Boisduval.
52. (1) ATERICA MELEAGRIS, Cramer, pl. 66, f. A, B; Drury, Ill.
Exot. Ent. vol. iii. pl. 17, f. 3, 4; Trimen, p. 157.
Indunas’ Tree, near the Umvungu River, in November.
Genus DANAIS, Latreille.
53. (1) DANAIS CHRYSIPPUS, Linnæus; Cramer, pl. 118, f. B, C.
Indunas’ Tree, near the Umvungu River; and near Gubuleweyo in December.
Genus HYPANIS, Boisduval.
54. (1) HYPANIS ILITHYIA, Drury, Ill. Exot. Ent. vol. ii. pl.
17, f. 1, 2; Cramer, pl. 214, f. C, D; Trimen, p. 214.
Tati, Ramaqueban River, Inkwesi River (March 1874), Dry River; and
Indunas’ Tree, near the Umvungu River.
Family SATYRIDÆ.
Genus CYLLO, Boisduval.
55. (1) CYLLO LEDA, Linnæus et auct.
An extremely variable species. The specimen from the Nata River
(beginning of December 1874) has an obscure fulvous subapical patch
bearing two black spots in the fore wings; beneath, pale brown, with
dark brown fasciæ, and scarcely any trace of ocelli on the hind wings.
Specimens from Ashanti are pale brown beneath, strongly freckled all
over with brown, and with large ocelli on the hind wings.
Genus EREBIA, Dalman.
56. (1) EREBIA NARYCIA, Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 32; Trimen,
p. 198.
Ramaqueban River, middle of March.
Genus YPTHIMA, Hübner.
57. (1) YPTHIMA NAREDA, Kollar in Hügel’s Kaschmir, vol. iv. pl.
2, p. 451; Hewitson, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1865, pl. 17, f. 6, 7.
Near the Victoria Falls, in January.
Genus MYCALESIS, Hübner.
58. (1) MYCALESIS VICTORINA, Westw.
Sordide fusca, alis anticis pone medium nonnihil pallidioribus; ocellis
duobus nigris ochreo anguste cinctis, singulo punctum album includente
subapicali multo minori; posticis concoloribus lineis duabus tenuibus
submarginalibus pallidioribus serieque ocellorum ut in anticis: alis
subtus pallidioribus magis lutescentibus, fascia angusta recta communi
pone medium, anticis 2-posticis 7-ocellatis, ocellis valde inæqualibus,
in posticis lineis pallidis valde sinuatis inclusis. Expans. alar.
antic. unc. 1¾.
Affinis _M. Eusiro_, Hopffer in Peters’s Reise Mossamb. pl. 25, f. 3–6.
Near the Victoria Falls.
Family LYCÆNIDÆ.
Genus AMBLYPODIA, Horsfield.
59. (1) AMBLYPODIA NATALENSIS, D. W. and H., Gen. D. Lep. pl.
75, f. 4; Hopffer in Peters’s Reise Mossamb. p. 399; Trimen, p.
227.
_Spindasis Masilikazi_, Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 45.
Near the Victoria Falls, in January.
60. (2) AMBLYPODIA? LEROMA, Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 42;
Trimen, p. 231.
Near Tati.
Genus ZERITIS, Boisduval.
61. (1) ZERITIS PERION, Cramer, pl. 379, f. B, C.; Trimen, p.
267; Hopffer in Peters’s Reise Mossamb. pl. 26, f. 1–3.
Gubuleweyo, beginning of December.
62. (2) ZERITIS AMANGA, Westw.
Fœm. Alis supra læte rufo-aurantiacis; anticis macula magna basali
nigra, costa pone medium margineque apicali nigris; alis posticis,
rufo-aurantiacis basi nigricantibus: alis subtus purpureo-rufis,
anticarum costa ad basim guttisque duabus parvis prope basim tertia
parum majori submedia, alteraque subapicali, argenteis; posticis guttis
perpaucis argenteis vix notatis. Expans. alar. antic. unc. 1⅓.
Near the Gwailo River. The red basal half of the costa of the fore
wings, the outwardly angulated apical margin, the shorter hind wings,
with both the anal and outer margin emarginate near the tails, and the
splendid silvery base of the costa of the fore wings beneath, separate
this insect from _Z. Perion_.
Mas. (Zambesi, Rowley. In Mus. Hopeiano Oxoniæ). Alis anticis supra
fuscis, costa ad basim maculaque late trigona versus angulum externum
marginis postici rufis; alis posticis rufis, basi venisque versus
angulum externum nigricantibus: alis infra castaneo-rufis, costa
anticarum basi, guttisque tribus argenteis ut in fœmina, squamis
perpaucis argenteis in lineas transversas dispositis; alis posticis
strigis tribus undulatis gracilibus obscurioribus guttisque nonnullis
argenteis prope caudam. Margo externus alarum anticarum in medio
angulatus, inter medium et angulum posticum emarginatus.
Genus POLYOMMATUS, Latreille.
63. (1) POLYOMMATUS TELICANUS, Hübner, Eur. Schm. Pap. f. 371–2,
553–4; Godart; Boisduval; Trimen, p. 238.
Tati, the Gwailo River, and near the Victoria Falls.
64. (2) POLYOMMATUS OTACILIA, Trimen, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1868, p.
90.
Near the Victoria Falls, in January.
65. (3) POLYOMMATUS SYBARIS, Hopffer in Peters’s Reise Mossamb.
pl. 26, f. 6–8; Trimen, p. 242.
Near the Victoria Falls, in January.
Genus LYCÆNA, Fabricius.
66. (1) LYCÆNA PARSIMON, Fabricius; Godart; Boisduval.
_Papilio Celæus_, Cramer, pl. 379, f. K, K; Trimen, p. 247.
_Lycæna Asteris_, Godart; Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 40.
Var. _Lycæna Methymna_, Trimen, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1862, p. 280.
Male, Ramaqueban River, in February; female, Bamangwato, Tati.
67. (2) LYCÆNA JESOUS, Guérin in Lefebvre’s Voy. Abyss. pl. 11,
f. 3, 4; Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 39; Trimen, p. 350.
Near the Gwailo River, October 12, 1873.
68. (3) LYCÆNA ASOPUS, Hopffer in Peters’s Reise Mossamb. pl.
26, f. 13–15; Trimen, p. 249.
69. (4) LYCÆNA LOCHIAS? MSS.?
Alis supra fuscis purpureo parum squamosis, posticis maculis duabus
inequalibus nigris pallidius cinctis, submarginalibus, ciliis albis:
alis subtus pallide fuscis albidoque alternatim fasciatis; posticis
macula nigra intus aurantiaco, extus argenteo, notata, alteraque simili
sed multo minori ad angulum analem, cauda nulla. Expans. alar. antic.
lin. 10.
Locality not indicated.
Genus CHRYSOPHANUS, Hübner.
70. (1) CHRYSOPHANUS LARA, Linnæus; Fabricius; Trimen, p. 260.
_Papilio Jolaus_, Cramer, pl. 270, fig. F, G.
_Papilio Gorgias_, Stoll, pl. 33, f. 5, 5d.
Family HESPERIIDÆ.
Genus ISMENE, Swainson.
71. (1) ISMENE PISISTRATUS, Fabricius; Jones, Icones, vol. vi.
pl. 26, f. 1 (Typus in Mus. Britann.)
_Note._--The black mark extending from near the anal margin on
the under side of the hind wings, was more divided than usual in
Drury’s specimen, figured by Jones, so as to have led Fabricius
to describe the hind wings as four-spotted.
_Rhopalocampta Valmaran_, Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 48.
Var. Fascia alba latitudine æquali absque maculis nigris.
_Papilio Forestan_, Cramer, pl. 391, f. E, F; Godart; Boisduval;
Trimen, p. 318.
Holfontein, July 13, 1873.
Genus LEUCOCHITONEA, Wallengren.
72. (1) LEUCOCHITONEA LEVUBU, Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 52;
Trimen, p. 306.
Near the Dry River, beginning of March.
Genus CAPRONA, Wallengren.
73. (1) CAPRONA PILLAANA, Wallengren, Lep. Caffr. p. 51; Trimen,
p. 308.
Near Tati or Gwailo.
Genus PAMPHILA, Fabricius.
74. (1) PAMPHILA RANOHA, Westw.
Alis supra nigrofuscis, costa prope basim fulvo-irrorata, fascia fulva
e basi marginis interni per medium alæ extensa, sensim dilatata et ante
apicem alæ desinente, maculam ovalem inter cellulam et apicem nigram
gerente, ciliis fulvis; alis posticis fascia lata irregulari pone
medium fulva: alis subtus fulvis, anticis linea prope basim, macula
discoidali ovata strigaque subapicali ad angulum analem sensim dilatata
nigrofuscis; alis posticis fulvis nigro-guttatis, guttis novem in
lineas duas margine postico parallelas dispositis. Expans. alar. antic.
unc. 1⅙.
Near the Victoria Falls, in January.
75. (2) PAMPHILA HARONA, Westw.
Magnitudo _P. Lineæ_, Linnæus. Alis supra fulvis, anticarum costa
(ad basim valde angusta) margineque apicali nigris; macula basali
marginis interni, striga recta in cellula discoidali et macula conica
ad apicem cellulæ nigris; alis posticis fulvis costa late nigra,
ultra medium ad angulum externum angusta: alis infra fulvis, posticis
pallidioribus; anticis macula magna baseos costam non attingente,
altera parva transversa ad apicem cellulæ, tertiaque parva conica
marginis apicalis versus angulum internum; alis posticis immaculatis;
striola longitudinali magis brunnea, margine anali parallela. Expans.
alar. antic. unc. 1⅙.
Near the Victoria Falls, in January.
_LEPIDOPTERA HETEROCERA._
Moths of various sizes and hawk-moths appear to be very numerous
in Southern Africa. A large number of species of the former were
collected by Mr. Oates, chiefly of small size, the majority of which,
unfortunately, were ill preserved.
Family SPHINGIDÆ.
The SPHINGIDÆ are not especially remarkable. The death’s-head
moth, _Acherontia Atropos_, occurs throughout South Africa, and
was found between Gubuleweyo and the Gwailo River. _Chœrocampa
capensis_, with its bright pink under wings, extends from the Cape
to Natal and Zulu Land. A new species, closely allied to this last
insect, was captured by Mr. Oates, which may be thus described:--
CHŒROCAMPA VIRGO, Westw. (Plate E, fig. 11.)
Alba albido vix tincta, alis posticis plaga fere basali ovali punicea;
omnibus subtus omnino concoloribus. Expans. alar. antic. fere unc. 3.
Habitat prope Gubuleweyo vel Gwailo fluv.
The Genus _Nephele_, Hübner (_Zonilia_, Boisduval), contains several
South African species, _e.g._ _Sphinx Peneus_, Cramer; _fumosa_,
Boisduval; _comma_, Gerstaecker; _viridescens_, Walker, and the
beautiful _argentifera_, Walker. Several species of the silver-striped
hawk-moths occur in South Africa, as _Chœrocampa Charis_, Boisduval;
_Schenkii_, Moschler; _Thyelia_, Linn. (_Eson_, Cramer), etc.
The lovely _Smerinthus Dumolinii_, Boisduval, is from Natal. The
clear-winged _Sesia Hylas_, Linnæus, was captured at Gubuleweyo.
And lastly, it may be mentioned that the Rev. H. Rowley sent the
_Macroglossa hirundo_, Gerstaecker in Decken’s Reisen in Ost-Afrika,
pl. 15, fig. 7, from the Zambesi.
It may also be mentioned as a remarkable circumstance in entomological
geography that the grand _Urania_ (_Chrysiridia_) _Rhipheus_, supposed
until quite recently to be confined to Madagascar, and to be the only
old world representative of the splendid new world _Uraniæ_, has been
found on the east coast of Africa, near Zanzibar. Gerstaecker has
figured the continental individual as a distinct species, but specimens
which I have examined appear not to differ specifically from the
Madagascar ones.
Family ZYGÆNIDÆ.
In this family a beautiful species of _Zygæna_, closely allied to the
very striking _Z. ochroptera_, Felder, was taken at Tati, which may be
thus characterised:--
ZYGÆNA TRICOLORATA, Westw.
Chalybea, humeris alisque anticis aurantiacis, harum margine apicali
nigro; alis posticis sanguineis limbo nigro ante angulum analem
desinente. Expans. alar. antic. unc. 1, lin. 5.
Obs. _Z. ochroptera_, Felder, differt colore alarum limboque nigro
multo angustiori.
Another species from Gubuleweyo is allied to Felder’s _Euctenia
Zygænoides_ (pl. 82, f. 21), but has the sanguineous portion of the
hind wings divided by a transverse black band. On the under side the
white spots at the base and middle of the fore wings are sanguineous.
The beautiful South African species, _Z. caffra_, Linn., _ampla_,
Walker, _concinna_, Walker (Delagoa Bay), and especially _Z. negamica_,
from Damara Land and Lake Nyassa, require careful examination as to
their generic position. Several species of _Procris_ and _Syntomis_
were also taken by Mr. Oates.
Family AGARISTIDÆ.
This family is represented in Mr. Oates’s collection by a beautiful
undescribed species of _Eusemia_, allied to _E. Euphemia_, Cramer, pl.
345, fig. A, _E. longipennis_, Walker, Butler, Exot. Lep. Brit. Mus.
pl. 5, fig. 5; _E. pallida_, Butler, l. c. fig. 3; and _E. contigua_,
Butler, l. c. pl. 4, f. 8:--
EUSEMIA ADULATRIX, Westw. (Plate G, fig. 1, and Plate H, figs. 3, 3_a_,
3_b_.)
Alis anticis nigris, maculis duabus parvis subbasalibus, fascia obliqua
integra submedia, alteraque magna late ovali inter medium et apicem,
interstitiis argenteo-irroratis; striga minuta marginis interni pone
medium punctoque rotundato intus angulum posticum flavo-albidis; alis
posticis sanguineis, limbo nigro; abdomine luteo, nigro-annulato.
Expans. alar. antic. unc. 2¼.
Habitat prope Tati et Gwailo fluv.
I take this opportunity of describing several other African allied
species of this beautiful genus:--
EUSEMIA NIVEOSPARSA, Westw.
Corpore tenui, abdomine nigro, fulvo-annulato; alis anticis nigris
maculis 7 parvis niveis,--1ma. parva in medio cellulæ; 2da. obliqua
cellulam terminante; 3tia. ovali inter cellulam et apicem alæ; 4ta.
elongata ante medium marginis interni; 5ta. pone maculam 2am; 6ta.
bipartita inter 3am et 7am prope angulum posticum; alis posticis
sanguineis, limbo nigro. Expans. alar. antic. unc. 3.
Habitat in Montibus Cameroons, Afr. occid. In Mus. Hopeiano.
EUSEMIA ÆMULATRIX, Westw.
Mediocriter angusta, alis anticis angustis, nigris,
albido-maculatis,--macula parva rotunda in medio cellulæ; 2da. majori
ad apicem cellulæ; 3tia. fasciæformi in partes quinque venis nigris
divisa, angusta et in medio extus angulata; 4ta. elongata e basi ad
medium marginis interni extensa; 5ta. irregulari-ovata pone 2am.; 6ta.
minuta intus angulum posticum; alis posticis sanguineis, limbo nigro;
abdomine fulvo, ano nigro-barbato. Expans. alar. antic. unc. 2⅓.
Habitat ----? In Mus. Hopeiano.
EUSEMIA PARDALINA, Walker, Trans. N. Hist. Soc. Glasgow, vol. i. (1873).
The type of this species, from Congo, is in the Hopeian collection,
together with a second individual brought from Angola by Monteiro. It
differs from _E. Euphemia_ in its smaller size, and in having
the ground colour of the hind wings rich orange fulvous instead of
sanguineous.
EUSEMIA MERETRIX, Westw.
Alis anticis nigris, maculis 5 fulvis,--1ma. obliqua subbasali
marginem anticum et posticum non attingenti; 2da. ovali ad apicem
cellulæ; 3tia. duplo majori oblongo-ovali et obliqua inter cellulam et
apicem alæ; 4ta. fere rotundata pone 2am; 5ta. parva angulo postico
proxima; costa basi albo-guttata, margine postico immaculato; alis
posticis rufis, limbo nigro. Expans. alar. antic. unc. 2¾.
Habitat in Africa merid. (D. Buxton). In Mus. Hopeiano.
EUSEMIA NUGATRIX, Westw.
Alis anticis nigris, costa ad basim biguttata, maculis 6
luteo-albidis,--1ma. subtrigona ante medium cellulæ; 2da. subquadrata
parum obliqua ante apicem cellulæ; 3tia. magna subovali obliqua inter
medium et apicem alæ, intus vena 3tia mediana in dentem nigrum incisa;
4ta. oblonga marginis postici, medium marginis fere attingente; 5ta.
pone 2am; 6ta. fere ad angulum posticum alæ; interstitiis argenteo
parum squamosis; alis posticis rufo-aurantiacis, limbo simplici nigro.
Expans. alar. antic. unc. 2⅔–3¼.
Habitat apud promontorium, “Cape Palmas,” Afr. occid. (Savage). In Mus.
Hopeiano.
EUSEMIA GLOSSATRIX, Westw.
Alis supra nigris, purpureo-nitidis, præsertim in alis posticis;
anticis fascia media parum curvata tripartita straminea, alteraque
inter medium et apicem alæ e punctis 4 albis formata, interstitiis
squamis argenteis perpaucis ornatis; alis posticis margine postico
albo, intus dentato; abdomine supra nigro, subtus fulvo; collare et
pedibus subtus fulvis. Expans. alar. antic. unc. 2¼.
Habitat in Afric. orient-merid. In Mus. Hopeiano.
Family SATURNIIDÆ.
This splendid family is well represented in Africa, particularly in
the south-eastern portion, where a number of beautiful species have
been found, especially in Natal. A monograph of these insects, so far
as then known, was published by myself in the “Proceedings of the
Zoological Society,” in 1849 (with four coloured plates containing
thirty-three species), of which half were previously undescribed. Of
these, perhaps the most striking is the long-tailed species _Actias
mimosæ_, with pale green wings, which lives upon the Mimosa, on the
banks of the river Tugela, the boundary of the kingdom of Amazulu,
between Delagoa Bay and Natal, the cocoons of which are used by the
natives for tobacco boxes. Another fine species is _Saturnia Alcinoë_,
Cramer, pl. 322, fig. A, (= _S. Caffraria_, Stoll, pl. 31, f. 2, _S.
caffra_, Boisduval in Delegorgue’s Voy. Afr. Austr. ii. p. 601). A
specimen of this species, measuring seven inches in the expansion of
the fore wings, was taken by Mr. Oates, but the precise locality was
not recorded. Another species, which appears to be undescribed, was
also taken by Mr. Oates, which may be thus characterized:--
SATURNIA CERVINA, Westw.
Tota roseo-cervina, alis anticis spatio minuto transverso squamis
destituta ad apicem cellulæ, striolaque paullo obscuriori paullo
curvata et vix distincta inter cellulam et marginem posticum; alis
posticis macula parva trigona ad apicem cellulæ; abdomine magis fulvo;
alis anticis apice subrotundatis. Expans. alar. antic. unc. 4⅔.
Habitat prope Tati.
A beautiful species, nearly allied to the European emperor moth, was
taken by Mr. Oates, which appears to be undescribed, although it
has been named by Mr. Butler, in manuscript, in the British Museum
collection:--
SATURNIA FLAVIDA.
_S. Apolloniæ_, Cramer, pl. 250, fig. A, persimilis; differt colore
fusco-griseo alarum flavido-tincto, fascia fusca pone ocellum, absque
maculis duabus nigricantibus subapicalibus, colore fusco subapicali
omnium alarum intus flavido latius marginato. Expans. alar. antic. unc.
3⅓.
Habitat prope Gubuleweyo.
I take this opportunity of describing two additional species of
_Saturnia_, closely allied to _S. flavida_, in the Hopeian
collection, together with a remarkable species collected by Mr.
Buxton:--
SATURNIA TERPSICHORINA, Westw.
_S. Apolloniæ_ similis at multo minor et pallidior, ocello alarum
anticarum ovali, fascia tenui extus connexa, hac prope apicem alæ
absque maculis duabus nigris; alis posticis basi albis absque fascia
indistincta subbasali, ocello ovali extus cum fascia tenui fusca
conjuncta, fascia 2da submarginali ut in _S. Apollonia_; thoracis
dorso macula livido-fusca; incisuris abdominis livido-marginatis.
Expans. alar. antic. unc. 2¾.
Habitat in Africa merid.-orient. In Mus. Hopeiano.
SATURNIA DYOPS, Maassen and Weymer, Beitr., fig. 21.
This species is also closely allied to _S. Apollonia_, but
wants the ocellus in the hind wings. Maassen obtained it from Natal.
Specimens from South Eastern Africa, and from Angola (Monteiro), are in
the Hopeian collection at Oxford.
SATURNIA HYPERBIUS, Westw.
Alis anticis ferruginosis, puncto minimo vitreo ad apicem cellulæ;
striga recta obliqua pone medium alæ cinerea, area pone strigam
magis aurantiaca, margine apicali plumbeo-tincto, ciliis rufis; alis
posticis fulvis ocello mediocri medio cinereo (medio albido) circulo
nigro; striga angusta cinerea inter ocellum et marginem posticum
plumbescentem, ciliis rufis: alis subtus saturatioribus, venis flavis,
anticis macula rotunda nigra, medio vitrea; cellula in posticis fere
obliterata, strigaque pone medium angustiori et minus distincta;
corpore rufo, abdomine magis fulvo. Expans. alar. antic. fere unc. 5.
Habitat in Africa merid. (D. Buxton.) In Mus. Hopeiano.
Family BOMBYCIDÆ.
The family BOMBYCIDÆ appears to be rich in species of the sub-family
LIMACODIDES, the caterpillars of which are clothed with short erect
bristles, which are capable of inflicting poisonous wounds; their
cocoons are very solid and egg-shaped. Notwithstanding their defensive
appendages they are subject to the attacks of parasites, and in the
“Transactions of the Entomological Society,” 1876, pl. 10, I have given
the history of a curious dipterous insect, _Systropus crudelis_, which
destroys individuals of one of the species of this group. Mr. Oates
obtained a number of species, the majority of which are, however, in
a very mutilated condition. Of one, which is a very showy insect and
appears to be undescribed, I give the description below:--
LIMACODES ARGENTIFERA, Westw.
Læte pallido-viridis, alis anticis basi macula media fasciaque
subapicali valde curvata e guttis argenteis, singulis guttis annulo
brunneo cinctis, fascia externa e medio marginis postici versus apicem
extensa at guttis sensim decrescentibus; alis posticis abdomineque
fulvis. Expans. alar. antic. unc. 1¼.
_Pantoctæniæ Gemmanti_, Felder, Reise Novara, pl. 82, fig. 16,
proxima.
Habitat prope Gubuleweyo.
A large species of this family, _Jana Mariana_, was collected by Mr.
Oates at Tati, and is figured in Plate G, fig. 6. The type specimen
is in the British Museum from Congo. It belongs to the modern Genus
_Jana_, of Boisduval, but was described by the late Adam White under
the name of _Bombyx Mariana_ (Ann. Nat. Hist. xii. 264). It is
fawn-coloured, the fore wings with four slender oblique undulating
brown bands. In the hind wings the bands are rather broader and more
distinct, and there is a large purplish black spot at the base of the
latter. The fore wings measure from 4 inches to 4⅔ inches in expanse.
The species of the remaining Lepidopterous families captured by Mr.
Oates did not comprise any remarkable new species, and were for the
most part in a much broken condition, rendering their determination
very difficult.
Order COLEOPTERA.
Family _Cicindelidæ_.
Of the carnivorous ground beetles five genera of CICINDELIDÆ
_Manticora_, _Platychile_, and _Dromica_, with _Ophryodera_ and
_Bostrichophorus_, are peculiar to the central and eastern sub-regions
of Africa. Of the first-named genera, Mr. Oates collected specimens of
the gigantic _Manticora latipennis_, Waterhouse, together with a fine
new species of _Dromica_ characterized below:--
DROMICA (MYRMECOPTERA) OATESII, Westw. (Plate G, fig. 5, and Plate H,
figs. 1, 1_a_, 1_b_.)
Nigra, capite rugose striolato, labro lævi, in medio fulvo; pronoto
subopaco transverse striolato, linea media dorsali albo-hirta, elytris
obovalibus granulatis, singulis 5-costatis, costis longe ante apicem
desinentibus; costa suturæ proxima e tuberculis oblongis formata; costa
2da ad basim straminea, nigro-punctata; margine externo inter medium
et apicem linea gracili albida notato; antennis pone articulum 4tum
dilatatis, compressis, articulis sensim ad apicem decrescentibus. Fœm.
Long. corp. unc. 1, lat. med. elytr. lin. 3½.
Family CARABIDÆ.
Of this family there are 17 peculiarly South African Genera, including
_Crepidogaster_, _Hystrichopus_, _Arsinoë_, and _Piezia_. The genera
_Eunostus_, _Glyphodactyla_, and _Megalonychus_, occur in Madagascar as
well as in South Africa. The greater portion of the gigantic species
of _Anthia_ are African, and of these a number were collected by
Mr. Oates, including _A. maxillosa_, Fabricius, _Mellyi_, De Breme,
_cinctipennis_, Dupont, _guttata_, Melly, MS. in Brit. Mus., and an
apparently undescribed species. Of the allied Genus _Cypholoba_,
specimens were captured of _C. alveolata_, De Breme, and 7-_guttata_,
Fabricius. Of _Polyhirma_ two species, _P. macilenta_, Olivier, and
_amabilis_, Boheman (?), and two species of _Graphipterus_, _G.
cordiger_, Dejean, and _Westwoodii_, De Breme (?). _Drypta jucunda_ and
_Orthogonius caffer_, complete the list of CARABIDÆ.
Family SCARABÆIDÆ.
Of the sacred beetles, SCARABÆIDÆ, eminently characteristic of Africa,
and especially of the southern region, specimens of the gigantic
_Pachylomera femoralis_, Kirby, and a _Heliocantharus_, the largest
species of the genus, were taken by Mr. Oates, together with _H.
transversus_, Laporte (_operosus_, Dejean), and _H. intricatus_.
_Circellium Bacchus_, _Chalconotus cupreus_ (varietas minor et
brevior); three charming species of _Gymnopleurus_, _G. Olivierii_,
_fulgidus_, and _speciosus_; _Sisyphus_, one small species; _Copris_,
eight species, including _C. Jachus_, _Œdipus_, _Nemestrinus_, and
_cœlatus_; six small obscure species of _Onthophagus_; _Onitis inuus_
and _ciliatus_:--the preceding, of all of which specimens were taken,
together with several small obscure species of _Aphodius_, all being
coprophagous in their habits, sufficiently testify to the existence of
numbers of large mammalia in the regions where they occur.
Family MELOLONTHIDÆ.
Of this family a number of small obscure-coloured species were also
collected, with two species of _Trox_; but of the very characteristic
genera _Anisonyx_, _Peritrichia_, _Lepitrix_, _Pachycnema_, _Dichelus_,
_Monochelus_, and _Gymnoloma_, all very numerous in species, and
peculiar to South Africa, no specimens were captured by Mr. Oates.
Family DYNASTIDÆ.
_Oryctes Boas_, Fabricius, and a small _Syrichthus_, allied to _S.
gagates_, were the only DYNASTIDÆ captured; the former in large numbers.
Family CETONIIDÆ.
Of the family of the Rose Chafers (CETONIIDÆ), containing about 1000
described species, twelve genera are peculiar to Western Africa,
fourteen to South Africa, and twenty-one to Madagascar. Of the gigantic
species of Goliath beetles, _Goliathus albo-signatus_, Boheman
(_Kirkii_, G. R. Gray), inhabits the Zambesi country. _Ceratorhina
splendens_, Bertoloni (_Petersiana_, Klug), one of the loveliest and
most remarkable of beetles, inhabits the Tati district and Mozambique,
but none of these singular insects were found by Mr. Oates. Six species
of CETONIIDÆ were taken by Mr. Oates, including _Pachnoda obsoleta_,
Schaum; _Spilophorus plagosus_; _Phoxomela umbrosa_, Gory and
Perchéron; and _Oxythyrea discicollis_, Reiche, and _hæmorrhoidalis_,
Fabricius.
Family LUCANIDÆ.
Of this family there are ten genera in South Africa, seven of which
are peculiar, and two of these are confined to the Island of Bourbon;
two genera are peculiar to Western tropical Africa and three to South
Africa; whilst the otherwise widely-ranging genera _Lucanus_ and
_Dorcus_ are absent from Africa. No species of this family was taken by
Mr. Oates.
Family BUPRESTIDÆ.
This family is very extensive, containing at least 2700 species, many
of which are splendidly coloured insects, of gigantic size, amongst
which is a group essentially African, remarkable for the numerous
pencils of short erect hairs dotted over their whole upper surface
(Genus _Julodis_, Eschscholtz). The species of _Steraspis_ and
_Sternocera_ are also of large size and great brilliancy. Twenty-seven
genera of these insects occur in South Africa, of which six are
peculiar, but Mr. Oates only collected four small and obscure species.
The singular Genus _Polybothris_, with widely dilated elytra, is
peculiar to Madagascar, no species of the genus having been found on
the African continent.
Family ELATERIDÆ.
This family is also of great extent, consisting of not fewer than
2700 described species, many of which are exclusively natives
of South-Eastern Africa and Madagascar, the finest group being
_Tetralobus_, and its immediate allies, having flabellate antennæ,
which are almost restricted to Africa, a few only occurring in
New Holland. Of this group Mr. Oates collected a very interesting
species, which I have figured in Plate G, fig. 4, and which appears
to be identical with _Tetralobus bifoveolatus_ of Boheman (although
apparently differing in certain points).
Family PAUSSIDÆ.
Africa possesses a number of species of this singular family, found in
Natal by Herr Guienzius in ants’ nests. Mr. Oates, however, collected
only one species, _Pleuropterus alternans_, Westw., Thesaurus Ent.
p. 74, pl. 16, f. 2.
Family HISTERIDÆ.
These insects, which are generally found in excrement, appear to be
numerous in individuals, although only about eight species were taken,
one of large size.
Family SILPHIDÆ.
Of the carrion beetles one alone, _Silpha_ (_micans_, Fabricius), was
captured.
Family BOSTRICHIDÆ.
Of the numerous family of wood-boring beetles, five species were found
in considerable numbers, including _Apate_ (_monacha_ and _cornutus_,
Fabricius).
Family TENEBRIONIDÆ.
This extensive family, belonging to the HETEROMEROUS SECTION of the
Order, in its widest extent, as catalogued by Gemminger and Von Harold,
comprises more than 4500 described species, many of the largest and
finest of which are peculiarly African, such as _Chiroscelis_ and
its allies (of which I published an illustrated monograph in the
“Transactions of the Zoological Society,” vol. iii. 1849), and the
gigantic species of _Moluris_, such as _M. Bertolonii_, Guérin, from
Mozambique; _M. Rowleiana_, Westw., from the Zambesi; _M. gravida,_
Damara Land; and _M. Procrustes_, Delagoa Bay, illustrated in my
paper in “Trans. Ent. Soc.” 1875, pl. 6. Many of these insects, which
are especially natives of large sandy districts, were captured by
Mr. Oates, including _Moluris Perretii_, _M. gibbosa_, _M. albipes_,
etc., _Dichtha inflata_, Gerstaecker, _Anomalipus lineatus_ and
_intermedius_, _Hypomeles rugosus_, Fabricius, etc. Numerous smaller
species of MELASOMATOUS HETEROMERA, and HELOPIDÆ, were also taken, as
well as ten species of MYLABRIDÆ.
Family HELOPIDÆ.
Amongst the HELOPIDÆ, apparently allied to _Centronipus_ and
_Stenochia_, is an insect captured by Mr. Oates, which must be referred
to a new Genus,
Genus DEROSPHÆRIUS, Westw.
Corpus oblongum, subcylindricum; capite parvo, conico, ante oculos
utrinque rotundato-elevato, antennis longitudine dimidii corporis,
articulis æqualibus, externis paullo brevioribus at non crassioribus;
mandibulis capitis longitudine æqualibus curvatis, supra prope basim
cornu erecto, apice inciso, armatis; labro subrotundato, antice
emarginato; palpis maxillaribus elongatis, articulo ultimo vix
securiformi; mentum transversum antice angustatum; palpis labialibus
parvis, subcylindricis; prothorax rotundatus, subglobosus; pedes satis
graciles; tarsis heteromeris, simplicibus, unguibus simplicibus.
DEROSPHÆRIUS ANTHRACINUS, Westw. (Plate G, fig. 3, and Plate H, figs.
2, 2_a_, 2_b_, 2_c_.)
Niger nitidus, capite inter antennas biimpresso, pronoto subtiliter
punctatissimo; elytris punctato-striatis. Long. corp. fere lin. 6.
Family CURCULIONIDÆ.
Of the still more extensive family of the Weevils (Genus _Curculio_,
Linnæus), of which, including the SCOLYTIDÆ, BRENTHIDÆ, and ANTHRIBIDÆ,
not fewer than 1200 species have been described, large numbers are
peculiarly African, especially the great Genera _Brachycerus_,
_Episus_, _Microcerus_, _Platycopes_, _Sciobius_, and many others,
the species of most of which are distinguished by their dull colours
and sluggish movements, fitting them for their existence in wide arid
sandy districts, where they emulate the _Pimeliæ_ and _Molurides_. Of
this great tribe only nine species were captured, including numbers of
individuals of the gigantic _Brachycerus apterus_, remarkable for the
red spots on its black body, _B. congestus_, etc.
Family CERAMBYCIDÆ.
Of the great family of Longicorn beetles (_Cerambyx_, Linnæus),
consisting of not less than 8000 already described species, there are
in South Africa 262 genera, of which no less than 67 are peculiar,
namely 5 of PRIONIDÆ, 25 of CERAMBYCIDÆ, and 37 of LAMIIDÆ. The
most conspicuous of these genera are _Sternotomis_, _Zographus_,
_Alphitopola_, _Tragocephalus_, _Phryneta_, _Ceroplesis_. The giant
_Prionides_ are evidently very rare, but the remarkable genera may
be mentioned, _Cacoscelis_, _Cantharoctenus_, and _Cantharoplatys_,
Westw. (Thes. Ent.). Of this great group only 23 species were
collected by Mr. Oates, including _Ceroplesis hottentotta_, _C.
cruentata_, and two other species, _Phrissoma giganteum_, _Callichroma
latipes_, _Hamaticherus sericeus_ and _denticornis_, and _Amphidesmus
analis_, Olivier.
Family CHRYSOMELIDÆ.
The Phytophagous or plant-eating beetles (_Chrysomela_, Linn.), as
may be inferred from their habits, are exceedingly numerous, both in
species and individuals, in all parts of the world, more than 10,200
species having been described. Some few groups are especially African,
such as _Pæcilomorpha_, Hope, belonging to the _Megalopides_, numerous
species of _Sagra_, _Antipa_, _Melitonoma_, _Acolastus_, _Eurytus_,
_Pausiris_, _Pallena_, _Cyno_, _Macrocoma_, etc. Only twenty-three
species of these insects were taken by Mr. Oates, including _Sagra
festiva_, Gerst., _Diamphidia femoralis_, Gerst., _Clythra tettensis_,
and various species of _Eumolpus_, _Cassida_, _Hispa_, _Colaspis_, etc.
The other orders of insects received but little attention, and but few
are contained in Mr. Oates’s collection.
Order ORTHOPTERA.
In this order several large and beautiful species of locusts were
taken, including _Acridium leprosum_ and _scabrosum_, and _Petasia
cruentata_, _Pamphagus haploscelis_, and the curious wingless
grasshopper, _Eugaster loricatus_ of Gerstaecker. Two or three
different kinds of Crickets and four species of BLATTIDÆ were also
taken.
Order NEUROPTERA.
In this order a large species of _Myrmeleon_, marked like _M.
Libelluloides_, and the lovely _Palpares citrinus_, were collected.
Order HYMENOPTERA.
In this order two large species of sand wasps with steel blue wings
were taken.
Order HEMIPTERA.
Of HEMIPTERA twelve species of CIMICIDÆ were taken.
Order DIPTERA.
In this order various species injurious to cattle and horses, including
six species of TABANIDÆ, one being the beautiful _Tabanus africanus_
of Gray (Griff. Anim. Kingd. Ins. pl. 114, fig. 5), were taken; also
two species of _Hippobosca_, and various specimens of the terrible
TSETSE (_Glossina morsitans_, Westw., Proc. Zool. Soc., 10th December
1850), of which I have thought it would be desirable to give a fresh
figure (Plate G, fig. 2). The figure which I gave of this insect,
accompanying my original description, was afterwards copied upon the
titlepage of Dr. Livingstone’s Travels (without acknowledgment), and in
my memoir I ventured to suggest not only that the Tsetse was identical
with the Zimb of Bruce, but also possibly with the Tsaltsalya; and
further, that “the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers
of Egypt,” described by the prophet Isaiah (ch. vii. 18, 19), and
considered as the cause of one of the plagues of Egypt, may also have
been no other than the Tsetse. Two notes recently published on this
insect, with suggestions of remedying or preventing its attacks, may be
added:--
Lewis Hornor, in the “Times,” 25th February 1879, writes, “Having
hunted in the African fly country and seen many horses and oxen die of
the bite, against which no external application is, I firmly believe,
any safeguard, I venture to call attention to the precautions adopted
by the Boer elephant hunters in the interior. The Tsetse inhabits
narrow and clearly defined strips of country, familiar to all natives,
and readily evident to strangers. On approaching one of these ‘fly
belts’ (so called) a halt is made, and inspanning again at sundown the
Boer treks through at night in safety. I only remember one case of
mishap, when, in crossing a belt near the confluence of the Chobé and
Zambesi, two or three oxen out of nearly forty were bitten, and that,
if my memory serves me, on a bright moonlight night.”
The African traveller Hildebrandt recommends strongly, in the
“Korrespondenzblatt der afrik. Gesellschaft,” the use of petroleum
for those travelling in the tropics, as a protection against insects.
Occasional applications to the face and hands ensured entire freedom
from mosquitoes, and the same method sufficed to preserve horses and
cattle against the deadly attacks of the Dondorobo gadfly, which so
often cripples the movements of the explorer. Petroleum likewise
protected the Natural History Collections of the traveller from ants,
moths, etc.
[The description of Plates E-H is given on p. 365.]
[Illustration:
App.Pl.E.
[symbol]. del. Mintern Bros. lith.]
[Illustration:
App.Pl.F.
[symbol]. del. Mintern Bros. lith.]
[Illustration:
App.Pl.G.
[symbol]. del. Mintern Bros. lith.]
[Illustration:
App.Pl.H.
[symbol]. del. Mintern Bros. lith.]
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PLATES.
PLATE E.
Fig. 1, 2. _Acræa amphimalla_.
„ 3, 4. _Callosune Wallengrenii_.
„ 5, 6. _Callosune ramaquebana_.
„ 7, 8. _Callosune Buxtoni_, female.
„ 9, 10. _Callosune regina_, female.
„ 11. _Chœrocampa virgo_.
PLATE F.
Fig. 1, 2. _Acræa Atergatis_.
„ 3, 4. _Acræa Atolmis_.
„ 5, 6. _Acræa Axina_.
„ 7, 8. _Acræa Acontias_.
„ 9, 10. _Acræa Aglaonice_.
„ 11, 12. _Acræa Acronycta_.
PLATE G.
Fig. 1. _Eusemia adulatrix_.
„ 2. _Glossina morsitans_.
„ 3. _Derosphærius anthracinus_.