178 



TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



Favourite Resorts. 



Oddly enou^^h, in the tropics, damp open places, espe- 

 cially river- banks and margins of pools, during the hottest 



part of the day, 

 are favourite re- 

 sorts of these 

 children of the 

 sun. Thirsty by 

 nature, they con- 

 gregate in abso- 

 lutely countless 

 numbers on the 

 wet sand or gra- 

 vel, to suck up 

 the moisture. 

 Often it is im- 

 possible to walk 

 far without dis- 

 turbinof flocks of 

 ever}' variety of size and colour thus refreshing them- 

 selves, and at our approach they flutter up into the 

 air from before our feet. In Nicaragua, groups may 

 be observed of fine Swallow-tails (Papilio), greedily 

 imbibing the water, and quivering their wings as they 

 drink, and pretty blue Hair- streaks (Theclee), which, 



Fig. 32. — Cherilra jaffra, brown witli while tails, 

 from Burmah. 



