Biodiversity Explorers >

Pages viii - xiv of Preface in Trimen (1887). South African Butterflies: A Monograph of the Extra-Tropical Species. Vol. I. Nymphalidae. Trübner & Co., Ludgate Hill.

"Although for many years fortunately situated as regards the prosecution of this work by my tenure of the Curatorship of the South-African Museum, I have, on the other hand, had to sustain the serious disadvantage of being tied by official duties to a locality lamentably barren of butterfly life. Cape Town and its neighbourhood is absolutely not more productive of species than Brighton, and, as regards size (with three exceptions) and abundance of individuals, the butterflies of the South African metropolis compare very badly with the series yielded by the principal town of Sussex. Beyond a stay for nine months in the Knysna district, and occasional more or less hurried excursions to Namaqualand, Griqualand West, Grahamstown, and Natal, my opportunities for personally collecting and observing have only extended to the unproductive Western Districts within 150 miles of Cape Town. This unfavourable limitation of my own field-work has, however, been very largely counterbalanced by the abundant material which has always been placed at my disposal by the activity and liberality of my numerous correspondents in different parts of South Africa.

At the head of these generous helpers in my work stands my friend Colonel James Henry Bowker, to whose energy and observant powers as a naturalist I owe the greater part of my acquaintance with the rarer Lepidoptera of the country. As long ago as 1866 I had the pleasure of recording how largely he had contributed to my former work; and my indebtedness to his generous aid has, I am happy to say, steadily increased ever since.

Colonel Bowker's début as a votary of entomology took place in Kaffraria twenty-seven years ago, and the great success which attended his researches in that productive region was only the prelude to his fruitful labours in Basutoland, Griqualand West, Natal, and Zululand. The fine collection of native butterflies in the South-African Museum owes the greater part of its treasures to his exertions, - no less than forty new species, and one most remarkable new genus (Deloneura), in addition to very many rarities, being his own discoveries and donations. The gift of specimens has been immeasurably enhanced in value by his copious notes on the haunts and habits of the insects, their distribution in South Africa, and their earlier stages. It is in very inadequate but most grateful acknowledgment of his co-operation that I have, with his permission, associated his name with my own on the title-page of the work to which he has so extensively and ably contributed.

To Mrs. F. W. Barber, the sister of Colonel Bowker, I am also greatly indebted. Long known to European botanists for her attainments and discoveries in regard to the Flora of the Cape, this lady had a wide acquaintance with South-African Natural History generally, and in 1863 turned her attention specially to the Lepidoptera. With characteristic generosity - knowing that I was engaged in bringing out a book on the subject - Mrs. Barber offered me the fullest aid, and constantly since then have her net, pen, and artistic pencil been actively engaged in furtherance of my work. Of special value have proved her graphic accounts of the habits and stations of the butterflies of the Eastern Districts of the Cape Colony, where she has chiefly resided, and her excellent coloured drawings of larvae and pupae, some of which are reproduced in Plates I. and II. of this volume. My friend's strong love of nature and keen observant powers are happily shared by her daughter, Mrs. Bailie, and her two sons, Mr. Frederick and Mr. Henry Barber; and many of the most interesting captures and discoveries recorded by Mrs. Barber are due to their enthusiastic co-operation as collectors and observers. Mr. F. and Mr. H. Barber have also independently rendered me much service by sending down several collections made in the Transvaal and the country northward to the Zambesi.

The principal material at my disposal has been as follows in respect of the various South-African territories named; and I must ask the donors who may see these pages to excuse the brevity with which their valued contributions of specimens and notes (and in some cases drawings also) are of necessity here gratefully acknowledged.

GREAT NAMAQUALAND. - A small series from Mr. W. C. Palgrave.

CAPE COLONY (Western Districts). - Collections from the neighbourhood of Cape Town, besides those made by myself for many years:- Mr. C. A. Fairbridge, Senior Trustee of the South-African Museum; Mr. E. L. Layard, formerly Curator of the Museum; the late Mr. H. W. Oakley, Assistant to the Curator.

From Knysna District, besides my own collection made there in 1858-59: a fine collection formed by Miss Wentworth, now Mrs. J. J. Muskett; and a smaller series from the late Mr. W. H. Newdigate.

From Caledon, Swellendam, Montagu, and Robertson: small collections made respectively by the Rev. G. Hettarsch, the late Mr. L. Taats, Dr. D. R. Kannemeyer, and myself.

From Carnarvon District: several small separate series from Mr. E. G. Alston.

From Namaqualand District, in addition to some species taken by myself in 1873: a very interesting collection made in 1885 by Mr. L. Péringuey, Assistant Curator of the Museum.

(Eastern Districts). - From Albany and Bathurst Districts and parts of adjacent Districts, besides Mrs. Barber's extensive collections and one formed by myself in 1870: various contributions by Miss M. L. Bowker, Mr. H. J. Atherstone, Dr. H. Becker, Mr. W. F. Billinghurst, Mr. John L. Fry, and Mr. F. Schiffman.

From Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage Districts, besides a small series of my own taking: collections by Colonel J. H. Bowker and Mr. S. D. Bairstow.

From King William's Town and East London Districts: many specimens and drawings, with excellent notes, from Mr.

J. P. Mansel Weale; various living pupae, as well as other specimens, from Miss F. Bowker; numerous examples, with valuable accounts of seasons and haunts, from Mr. W. S. M. D'Urban; a small collection made at East London by Mr. P. Borcherds; and various species from the Venerable Archdeacon Kitton. Colonel Bowker also from time to time forwarded a considerable number of butterflies from these districts.

Albert District: a small but most interesting series collected by Dr. D. R. Kannemeyer, illustrated by notes of much value on stations and habits.

Basutoland. - From this territory the only material received was the collection formed by Colonel Bowker between March 1868 and June 1870; it consisted of sixty-two species.

Griqualand West. - Mrs. Barber and Colonel Bowker forwarded considerable series, chiefly from the banks of the Vaal River; smaller sets from time to time contributed by Mr. John B. Currey, Mr. John L. Fry, Mr. H. L. Feltham (with notes of much interest), and the late Mr. S. Stonestreet.

KAFFRARIA PROPER. - A very fine and complete collection gathered by Colonel Bowker in the country between the Great Kei and Bashee Rivers during the years 1860-66.

NATAL. - In addition to my own captures in 1867, very extensive series (with copious notes, larvae, pupae, &c.), secured by Colonel Bowker from 1878 to the present time; many specimens (with excellent drawings of early stages and useful observations and descriptions) from Mr. W. D. Gooch; a few specimens, but many most interesting sketches and descriptions of larvae and pupae, from Captain H. C. Harford; many admirably preserved examples from the Upper Districts, collected by Mr. J. M. Hutchinson; a large collection formed at D'IJrban by the late Mr. M. J. M'Ken; several new and rare forms from Mr. W. Morant; and a small series (with drawings of larvae and pupae) forwarded by the late Dr. J. E. Seaman.

ZULULAND. - A small collection made at St. Lucia Bay by the late Colonel H. Tower in 1867, and numerous specimens captured by Colonel Bowker in 1880.

SWAZILAND - A few examples (with notes of localities and coloured photographs of many species taken) from the late Mr. E. C. Buxton.

DELAGOA BAY. - An interesting series (accompanied by some good sketches and notes) from Mrs. Monteiro.

TRANSVAAL. - A fine collection, in the best order, formed by Mr. T. Ayres, and acquired by the Trustees of the South-African Museum in 1879; a small series collected by Mr. F. and Mr. H. Barber; a large number from Mr. A. W. Eriksson; and a considerable collection made by Mr. F. C. Selous.

The four gentlemen last named have all contributed in addition many butterflies from the Tropical Interior extending to the Zambesi Valley; and for many specimens from Damaraland I am indebted to the late Mr. C. J. Andersson, Mr. J. A. Bell, Mr. J. J. Christie, and Mr. W. C. Palgrave.

To the kindness of Mr. P. MacOwan, Director of the Botanic Gardens in Cape Town, I am indebted for the identi fication of many food-plants of the larvae of South-African butterflies.

The assistance rendered me by entomologists in Europe has been invaluable, and my only regret is that my visits to England have been too few and brief for more fully availing myself of the liberality with which access to their collections was awarded me. The treasures of the magnificent National Collection in the British Museum have always been open to me through the courtesy of the officers of the Zoological Department, and I cannot sufficiently thank my friends Mr. A. G. Butler and Mr. W. F. Kirby for the cordial manner in which, for many years past, they have in every way furthered my researches. The limits of a preface preclude a full mention of the many friends who have lightened my labours, but I give myself the pleasure of specially thanking Mr. H. W. Bates, Mr. W. L. Distant, Mr. F. Du Cane Godman, Professor R. Meldola, Mr. F. Moore, Mr. O. Salvin, Mr. H. Grose Smith, Mr. A. R. Wallace, and Professor Westwood.

Among Continental entomologists, I must express my special obligations to Mr. P. O. C. Aurivillius, of the Royal Museum in Stockholm, who not only sent for my examination typical specimens from Wahlberg's South-African collections described by Wallengren, but also procured for me some admirable figures of a few unique types in the same collections, besides presenting me with his own valuable publications treating of African butterflies. I had previously received from my kind correspondent, Pastor H. D. J. Wallengren of Farhult, a series of his papers on the above-named and other collections, and found them of the greatest assistance."