:::"::;si: NATURE NEAR CAMP 2^"""- 



fellows, more than four inches across the wings, which 

 flapped slowly just out of reach. The dainty Heli- 

 conias were quite common, and very different from any 

 family of butterflies which we have in the North. 

 Their Avings are long, narrow oblongs in shape, a vel- 

 vety black ground colour, sjjlashed and dotted with 

 bright yellow. When in the net, more conspicuous 

 insects can hardly be imagined ; but, although they 

 move slowly, like soaring birds, being protected by 

 nauseous juices of their bodies, yet, in the woods, they 

 blend in a remarkable way with their environment. 

 They seldom come out into the open, or gather at the 

 sand-pools, but keep in the thick under])rusb, thread- 

 ino- the tansfles of vines and fronds, floatino- and drift- 

 ino-, tliouoh not a breath of air stirs the leaves. Here 

 where the darkness of the dense shadows is pierced by 

 narrow shafts of yellow sunlight, the beauty of the 

 Heliconias dissolves, their contrasted colours merging 

 into a cloak of invisibility. Three or four of these 

 butterflies upon a single leaf are not noticeable until 

 they take to flight. 



Wasps and hornets now appeared and, in many 

 cases, began to build their nests. Picking up a stone 

 from near the water, one day, I alarmed a brown 

 spider, which rushed out. Instantly a metallic green 

 wasp, less than an inch in length, darted down and 

 the two struggled fiercely together. The contest was 

 short and the spider's legs hung paralyzed and helpless. 



" ^ 165 #* - 



