2 14< [February, 



energetic flight without being involuntarily carried away from their food-plants, or 

 the situations suited for their habits. Now if there is truth in these latter remarks, 

 Brachelytra should be much rarer in the stillness of the tropics than in the more 

 disturbed atmospheres of the temperate regions, and I think my collections here will 

 prove this. — Gr. Lewis, Hadley, Dickoya, Ceylon : 12th December, 1881. 



Capture of Cassida vittata near Hastings. — During last summer I captured 

 this species along the road from Battle to Eobertsbridge, and I thought it might be 

 worth recording in your Magazine. — F. W. Savage, University School, Hastings : 

 January, 1882. 



More Tropical Notes. — I have read Mr. W. B. Pryer's " Tropical Notes " (Ent. 

 Mo. Mag., vol. xvii, p. 241) with great interest, and though I agree with him that 

 on the whole the accounts of the fauna and flora of the Tropics are greatly exag- 

 gerated by travellers, still my experience in the "Western Tropics, in Chiriqui and 

 other parts of central America, differ greatly from those of Mr. Pryer in the East ; 

 I do not find such an absence of life even in the dense forest, nor can I say that 

 butterflies in particular are never found under the forest canopy. Mr. Pryer (who 

 tells us very little about the Coleoptera) gives a somewhat dismal account of the 

 productions of the forest which will certainly not apply to this part of the New 

 World. The forests of the tierra caliente of Central America are perhaps more open 

 than in Borneo, lofty trees with dense undergrowth of palms, tree ferns, &c, and 

 though beautiful flowers are few and far between, still the foliage-plants in a great 

 measure compensate for their absence. I seldom enter the forest without meeting 

 with a flock or two of one or more species of monkeys, macaws, and other brightly 

 coloured birds, two species of Morpho, two of Caligo, many Heliconidce (the beauti- 

 ful transparent winged Ithomice especially), species of Satyr idee that I never find 

 excepting beneath the forest canopy, various Erycinidce, &c. ; it is true that more 

 species of butterflies will be found outside the virgin forest, in the second growth 

 and along the banks of the rivers, &c, as the Papilionidce, Pieridce, Hesperidce, 

 species of Anartia, Junonia, Danais, Agraulis, Callicore, &c, these are rarely if ever 

 to be seen in the forest. Coleoptera, however, are very rare comparatively in the 

 forests of the hot country, the coffee-regions or zone of 2000 — 3000 ft. or more 

 elevation is infinitely more productive ; I find at least double the number of 

 species and individuals in those districts, and the new clearings made in the forests 

 for planting coffee are the most productive places, here Coleoptera (especially small 

 species) abound, many species of Debiidce, Lampyridoe, Dycidce, Longicorns, Chry- 

 somelidce, Hispidce, &c. Hemiptera, especially the Pentatomidce, Coreidce, and 

 Fulgoridce are perhaps commoner in the forests of the hot country. Though one 

 does not find in this Western Tropical forest all the gaily coloured birds, insects, &c. 

 at once, still they are there, and, in a residence of a few months, one becomes 

 acquainted with them. I confess myself I was greatly disappointed with my first 

 impression of the Tropical Forest, but, after a long residence, my opinion has greatly 

 changed, and I can confirm Mr. Pi'yer's eastern experiences in one thing only, that 

 is in the absence of flowers. — G-eo. C. Champion, Bugafita, Chiriqui, Estado de 

 Panama, U. S. Colombia : December, 1881. 



