Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/188

160 their noise, they become absolutely silent when one approaches the tree lately resonant with the efforts of the cicadan orchestra; but that is too late for protection. They have many enemies in all parts of the world in which they are found, being not only eaten by birds but attacked by such varied insects as Mantidæ, dragonflies and hornets, whilst, as remarked above, the beetle (Manticora) can now be added to the recorded list. They also fall a prey to spiders, are attacked in the egg condition by larvæ of ichneumons, and are also sometimes afflicted by a fungoid growth.

Further along the road our way lay across what to S. African travellers is so well known as turf, and after prolonged wet this remains in a terrible condition for vehicular traffic, though in other parts the country may be baked and burnt up, as it was at this time. Our faithful Zulu had to lead our horse, and did so cheerfully and uncomplaining for ten hours at a stretch. I provided him with a bottle of "Cape smoke" as some sort of stimulant under the strain, which he consumed and seemed none the worse for. But when we reached the Hex River, and John led our horse—an animal with a strong dislike for fords—across it, he entered the river on one side sober, and, dreadful and strange to relate, came out the other side in a state of intoxication, the effects probably of the lukewarm and swiftly-flowing water. With a demoralized Zulu fastened to the back of our trap, we made an inglorious entry into Rustenburg about 9 p.m. However, once at the 'Masonic Hotel,' a good supper soon put us to rights, while our faithful servitor speedily became again clothed and in his right mind.

The next morning we were joined by our good friend Ayres, who acted as our guide during the stay, and whose acquaintance with the lives and habits of the living creatures that frequented the country around was equal to the combined knowledge of a field-naturalist and a sportsman.

We had arrived at a bad time. No rain had fallen for some weeks, and the country was parched up. Birds were practically absent, and so we decided to try and find the good things of the place.

Rustenburg is famous for some fine beetles, and we made long excursions in search of a few rare species. In the Cetoniidæ the pride of place centres in Goliathus albosignatus. This beetle is