Pyrameis cardui is found on the wing throughout the year, and its
constancy of appearance seems also equalled by Junonia cebrene.
The protective resemblance of Hamanumida dcedalus has been
described (ante, p. 41); but the lepidopterist has still much to
observe on this point with other species, for in a world governed
by unvarying natural laws, causation is now seen to have a new
meaning, and not a butterfly possesses its peculiar coloration
outside the rule of natural selection. Our admiration expressed
for beauty alone is simply a confession of our ignorance.
In the Pierinse the genus Teracolus frequents the warmer
valleys of Natal and Zoutpansberg, and is moderately scarce
around Pretoria. Colias electra is apparently on the wing
throughout the year, and can be found alike in gardens and
across the bare veld.
Some of the butterflies are exceedingly scarce and local, and
it was only on one restricted spot near Pretoria that I ever saw
the beautiful lycsenid Iolaus bowkeri, but in this narrow strip
of scrub it could always be found during the season. I have
appended the dates at which I found the species, but of course
these in most cases simply relate to my own experience, and do
not define the total period of the insect’s appearance.
Fam. Nymphalidj;.
Subfam. Danainje.
Danais chrysippus, Linn. (Throughout the year) Pretoria.
Yar. alcippus, Cram. Pretoria.
Var. dorippus, Klug. Pretoria.
Subfam. Sa ty b in ^e.
Ypthima asterope, Klug. (May) Zoutpansberg.
Pseudonympha nary da, Wallengr. (Dec.) Pretoria.
Pseudonympha vigilans, Trim. (Dec.) Pretoria.
Mycalesis perspicua, Trim. (May) Zoutpansberg.
Melanitis leda, Linn. (Aug. & Sept.) Pretoria.
Subfam. Acb^ inae.
Acrcea horta, Linn. (Nov.) Pretoria.
Acrcea neobule, Doubl. (Feb. & Sept.) Pretoria,
(May) Zoutpansberg.
Acraa violarum, Boisd.
Acrcea nohara, Boisd.
Acrcea doubledayi, Guér.
Acrcea caldarena, Hewits.
Acrcea natalica, Boisd.
Acrcea, anemosa, Hewits.
Acrcea encedon, Linn.
Acrcea rahira, Boisd.
Acrcea buxtoni, Butl.
Planema esebria, Hewits.
(May) Zoutpansberg.
(Jan.) Durban, Natal.
(May) Zoutpansberg.
(May) Zoutpansberg.
(Jan.) Durban, Natal.
(Sept.) Pretoria.
(May) Zoutpansberg.
(Feb.) Pretoria.
(Jan. to May) Zoutpansberg,
Pretoria, and Natal.
(Jan.) Durban, Natal.
Subfam. Nyhphaliníe.
Atella columbina, Cram.
Pyrameis cardui, Linn.
Junonia cebrene, Trim.
Junonia clelia, Cram.
Junonia boopis, Trim.
Precis cloantha, Cram.
Precis ceryne, Boisd.
Precis sesamus, Trim.
Precis archesia, Cram.
Precis natalica, Feld.
Salamis anacardii, Linn.
Eurytela hiarbas, Dru.
Hypanis ilithyia, Dru.
Neptis agatha, Cram.
Hypolimnas misippus, Linn.
Hamanumida dcedalus, Fabr
(Mar.)
(Throughout the year)
(Throughout the year)
(May)
(Feb.)
(Aug. & Mar.)
(May)
(Feb.)
(Feb. & Mar.)
(May)
(Jan.)
(Jan.)
(Jan.)
(May)
(Sept. & Mar.)
(May)
(Jan. & Mar.)
(Jan.)
(Aug. to June)
(May)
Pretoria.
Pretoria.
Pretoria.
Zoutpansberg.
Pretoria.
Pretoria.
Zoutpansberg.
Pretoria.
Pretoria.
Zoutpansberg,
Durban, Natal.
Durban, Natal.
Durban, Natal.
Zoutpansberg,
Pretoria.
Zoutpansberg.
Pretoria,
Durban, Natal.
Pretoria,
Zoutpansberg.
Fam. LycjENidjE.
Catochrysops osiris, HopfE.
Tarucus telicanus, Lang.
(May) Zoutpansberg.
(May) Zoutpansberg,
(Oct. to Mar.) Pretoria.