123 THE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA. [Ch. Till. 



weak limbs, and the beetle is more than twice its size 

 and weight, and is very active, quickly taking wing ; so 

 that the only way in which it could have been overcome 

 that I can think of, is by the bug creeping up when it 

 was sleeping, quietly introducing the point of its sharp 

 proboscis between the rings of its body and injecting 

 some stupifying poison. In both instances that I wit- 

 nessed, tbe bug was on a leaf up a shrub, with the bulky 

 beetle hanging over suspended on its proboscis. Other 

 species of bugs certainly inject poisonous fluids. One 

 black and red species in the forest, if taken in the hand, 

 would thrust its sharp proboscis into the skin, and pro- 

 duce a pain worse than the sting of a wasp. Amongst 

 the bushes were always to be found the beautiful scarlet 

 and black tanager (Rhamphocvelus passerinii, Bp.), and 

 more rarely another species {R. sanguinolentus, Less.). 

 Along with these, a brownish- coloured bird, reddish on 

 the breast and top of the head (Phcenicothraupis fnsi- 

 cauda, Cab.), flew in small sociable flocks; whilst gene- 

 rally somewhere in the vicinity, as evening drew on, a 

 brown hawk might be seen up some of the low trees, 

 watching the thoughtless chirping birds, and ready to 

 pounce down when opportunity offered. Higher up the 

 valley more trees were left standing, and amongst these 

 small flocks of other birds might often be found, one 

 green with red head (Calliste larinue, Cass.) ; another, 

 shining green, with black head (Chlorophanes guatema- 

 Icnsis) ; and a third, beautiful black, blue, and yellow, 

 with yellow head (Calliste torcata, Du Bus.). These and 

 many others were certain to be found where the climbing 

 Marcgravia nepenthoides expanded its curious flowers. The 

 flowers of this lofty climber are disposed in a circle, 



