i>^84.] 249 



gigantic Boarmia, it rests in the same manner, with its wings spread 

 out horizontally. Some very fine Lamellicornes — species of Plusiotis 

 (metallic, golden or silvery in colour), Anfichira, and others, may be 

 found at an elevation of 5000 ft. flying in the hot sun round the tops 

 of forest trees; Lampyridce, Longicornea, Pliyfophaga, &c.,of different 

 species to those of the hot country. Goleoptera and Hemiptera are 

 abundant at an elevation of about 3000 ft., and many of the species 

 of the low country will be found as high as this ; higher, fewer and 

 different species are to be met with. 



The highlands of the State of Panama, unlike those of Costa E,ica, 

 are almost uninhabited ; there are no villages except in the low 

 country, travelling is in consequence very difficult, no roads, and the 

 country exceedingly broken, the coffee plantations only made within 

 the last few years, are, probably, the highest inhabited places in 

 Chiriqui, and it is chiefly owing to being able to stay at these places I 

 was enabled to collect at the higher elevations. 



A great deal of forest is to be found in Chiriqui, besides the 

 patches of wood on the plains, but as we go nearer to Panama, into 

 the department of Yeraguas, we begin to leave the forests and come 

 to a different sort of country and vegetation, very broken hills and 

 valleys covered with grass and wooded only by the streams or in the 

 hollows and forest of any extent only to be found high up on the 

 mountain slopes. Certain Malacoderms {Astglus) swarm in flowers on 

 these grassy hills. 



I will say but little 'about Gruatemala, as my remarks on Chiriqui 

 will apply almost equally well to that country, fine forests are to be 

 found there also, both in the highlands and in the low country ; of 

 course, lots of species met with there will not be found in Chiriqui 

 and in the highlands. The fauna partakes much more of a North 

 American character. Travelling is much easier in Guatemala ; there 

 are roads (or what are termed such) and a few bridges; villages or 

 towns are scattered all over the country, except in Peten and part of 

 Yera Paz, villages up to nearly 10,000 ft. above the sea, a cart road 

 (over which the diligences pass in the dry season) running along the 

 highest parts of the Cordillera between the capital and Quezaltenango, 

 and ascending to little short of 11,000 ft., whence the ascent of at least 

 one of the volcanoes (the Yolc. de Agua, elevation nearly 13,000 ft.) 

 can easily be made, and altogether there are far more facilities for work. 

 Hot, dry valleys, at 3000 ft. or so, with plenty of Gactacece (not, how- 

 ever, productive to the entomologist), pine forests, &c., characteristic 

 of certain parts of Guatemala, will not be found in Chiriqui. 



