1832.J • PHOSPHORESCENT INSECTS. -jg 



The same phenomenon here presented a slightly different appear- 

 ance. In ihis case the cloud was clearly seen to curl over, and 

 rapidly pass by the smnmit, and yet \vas neither diminished nor 

 increased in size. The sun was setting, and a gentle southerly 

 breeze, striking against the southern side of the rock, mingled 

 its current with the colder air above ; and the vapour was tiius 

 condensed : but as the light wreaths of cloud passed over the 

 ridge, and came witiiin the influence of the warmer atmosphere 

 of the northern sloping bank, they were immediately redis- 

 solved. 



The climate, during the months of May and June, or the be- 

 ginning of winter, was deliglitful. The mean temperature, from 

 observations taken at nine o'clock, both morning and evening, 

 was only 72'. It often rained heavily, but the drying southerly 

 winds soon again rendered the walks pleasant. One morning, 

 in the course of six hours, 1.6 inches of rain fell. As this 

 storm passed over the forests wliich surround the Corcovado, 

 the sound produced by the drops pattering on the countless mul- 

 titude of leaves was very remarkable ; it could be heard at the 

 distance of a quarter of a mile, and was like the rushing of a 

 great body of water. After the hotter days, it was delicious to 

 sit quietly in the garden and watch the evening pass into niglit. 

 xSatine, in these climes, chooses her vocalists from more humble 

 performers than in Europe. A small frog, of the genus Hyla, 

 sits on a blade of grass about an inch above the surface of the 

 water, and sends forth a pleasing chirp : when several are to- 

 gether they sing in harmony on different notes. I had some 

 difficulty ill catching a specimen of this frog. The genus Hyla 

 has its toes terminated by small suckers ; and I found this animal 

 could crawl up a pane of glass, when placed absolutely perpen- 

 dicular. Various cicadas and crickets, at the same time, keep 

 up a ceaseless shrill cry, but which, softened by tiie distance, is 

 not unpleasant. Every evening after dark this great concert 

 commenced ; and often have I sat listening to it, until my atten- 

 tion has been drawn away by some curious passing insect. 



At these times the fireflies are seen flitting about from hedge 

 to hedije. On a dark night the light can be seen at about two 

 hundred paces distant. It is remarkable tliat in all the diflerent 

 kinds of glowworms, shining elaters, and various marine animals 



