94 TROPICAL NATURE, AND OTHER ESSAYS. 



flown away from them, but it would then instantly have 

 fallen a prey to the numerous birds which always accom- 

 pany these roaming hordes of ants to feed upon the 

 insects that endeavour to escape. Far more conspicuous 

 than any of these imitative species are the large locusts, 

 with rich crimson or blue-and-black spotted wings. Some 

 of these are nearly a foot in expanse of wings ; they fly 

 by day, and their strong spiny legs probably serve as a 

 protection against all the smaller birds. They cannot be 

 said to be common ; but when met with they fully satisfy 

 our notions as to the large size and gorgeous colours of 

 tropical insects. 



Beetles. Considering the enormous numbers and 

 endless variety of the beetle tribe that are known to 

 inhabit the tropics, they form by no means so prominent 

 a feature in the animal life of the equatorial zone as we 

 might expect. Almost every entomologist is at first 

 disappointed with them. He finds that they have to be 

 searched for almost as much as at home, while those of 

 large size (except one or two very common species) are 

 rarely met with. The groups which most attract atten- 

 tion from their size and beauty, are the Buprestidae and 

 the Longicorns. The former are usually smooth insects 

 of an elongate ovate form, with very short legs and 

 antennse, and adorned with the most glowing metallic 

 tints. They abound on fallen tree-trunks and on foliage, 

 in the hottest sunshine, and are among the most brilliant 

 ornaments of the tropical forests. Some parts of the 

 temperate zone, especially Australia and Chili, abound 

 in Buprestidae which are equally beautiful ; but the 

 largest species are only found within the tropics, those of 

 the Malay islands being the largest of all. 



