2 1 '.j EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER. 



peatedly bred them from a similar nidus. But all doubt of their babits has 

 been removed by the observations of Mr. Sidney Saunders, who has bred an 

 Albanian species in great profusion: they construct their cells in bramble sticks, 

 which they line in the same manner as Colletes, with a thin transparent mem- 

 brane, calculated for holding semi-liquid honey, which they store up for their 

 young: the Albanian species were usually much infested by a Stylops. I had 

 a very interesting nest of one of these bees given to me: the bee was ob- 

 served to have chosen a hollow piece of flint stone, on breaking which a number 

 of the silken cocoons were found, some containing perfect bees when received. 

 Mr. Walcott has in his collection two specimens of this genus of bees, which 

 have apparently been attacked by a species of Stylops; the fact has not been 

 previously observed in this country, but in the "Transactions of the Entomo- 

 logical Society," vol. i., new series, p. 58, will be found an interesting account 

 of a species of Stylops which attacks Prosopis rubicolia, found by Mr. S. 

 Saunders, in Albania. 



(To be continued.) 



EXTEACTS FROM A LETTER 



RECEIVED EROM A CLERGYMAN, RESIDENT, A FEW 



YEARS AGO, IN ONE OE THE ISLANDS 



OE THE ESSEQUEBO, BRITISH GUIANA. 



COMMUNICATED BY C. E. BEEE, ESQ. 



"Fancy me just mounted on my horse and starting for a ride across the 

 island, in spite of a vertical sun. Quietly I proceed down a narrow road, 

 — half grass, half path, deep dykes on either side, shelving off abruptly 

 — on one side rows of trees, covered with fruits in various stages of perfec- 

 tion, forming something like a shade; on the other a thick bush, that is, trees, 

 shrubs, and parasitical plants, — creepers and climbers, some of great beauty, 

 ascending to the tops of the highest trees, and hanging down again to the 

 very bottom in the wildest and most graceful festoons, — wantoning in luxu- 

 riance. Through this bush, which is here but a narrow slip, occasional 

 glimpses of this most glorious river may be seen, rolling into the ocean at 

 about four or five miles an hour. About four miles off, another island, equal 

 in size to this, and beyond it, again, the mainland, stretching far into the 

 west, may be seen. As I proceed my attention is arrested hy a noise above. 

 I look up, and behold a large flock of parrots on their way to their feeding 

 ground. Suddenly, again, my horse makes a start, and almost throws me on 

 his neck. I look down, and see a large guana, one of the lizard tribe> 

 darting rapidly through the dyke into the bush, its beautiful and gorgeous 

 colours flashing and sparkling through the waters. In vain I urge my dog, 

 a beautiful spaniel, in pursuit; he barks, and jumps trpon my horse, or 

 springs into the water to cool himself, looking up into my face with the 

 most provoking indifference. 



I rein up my steed, and proceed. Again he snorts and backs, while a large 

 snake, here called the coral snake, beautifully -coloured, with head erect 



