THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 127 



Guinea. Matured height, 20 feet. The brown-skinned kernels 

 of the nuts are white or reddish-coloured, and have stimulating 

 properties, for which they are used in adulterating cocoa, tonics, 

 &c. The Kola-nut is as inseparable from the West African as 

 the Betel-nut from the East Indian and Javanese. The negro 

 can go on a long day's march with no other food than a Kola- 

 nut, and he also cuts from the root a thin, flat lath, the end of 

 which he sucks and chews in order to keep his teeth white and 

 his breath sweet. 



One of the chief native foods is Cassava, the tuberous root of 

 Manihot utilissima. The poisonous juice is expelled by squeez- 

 ing, and the residue pulped and eaten. The principal yam 

 grown for food is Dioscorea acul-ata. 



Of insects, myriads, belonging to the orders Coleoptera, 

 Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera, may be encountered. Worthy 

 of special note among the Coleoptera is the Winnebah Beetle, 

 Goliathus yiganteus, of which a natural size and coloured sketch 

 from life is exhibited, and the small brown, narrow beetle, of 

 which several specimens are exhibited. The latter is the West 

 African Fire-fly. The flashes of electric-blue light are emitted 

 from the white patch which will be seen on the lower surface of 

 the posterior abdominal segments. The light is so strong that, 

 having had occasion to consult a chart at night, I have impro- 

 vised a lantern with satisfactory results by placing one of these 

 insects in the fold of a silk handkerchief. 



The large black ant exhibited is not so graceful as the red 

 Bulldog Ant of Victoria, of which I exhibit a specimen for com- 

 parison. This is the Driver Ant, which marches in columns 

 several inches broad, with guards thrown out on either flank. 

 They do not pass each other, but all march in one direction, the 

 guards falling in with the retreating column at the end of the 

 night's foraging. 



There are many Snakes, varying from 12 inches in length to 

 large Pythons. 



Of Lizards, two are noted. One of these, about 6 to 9 inches 

 long, and vari-coloured, climbs actively and in large numbers 

 about the trunks of the Kapok trees. The other resembles a 

 small snake, being without legs and of almost even diameter of 

 Yz inch throughout, 12 inches in length. It answers to the descrip- 

 tion of Anyuis fragilis, having almost imperceptible eyes and 

 mouth. In colour it is of silvery-blue, and is very active in habit, 

 gliding swiftly among grass and dead leaves, and, when attacked, 

 writhing in marvellous contortions, like an injured worm. 



Want of space precludes a description of a great many other 

 forms of faunal and floral life ; but, in conclusion, the following 

 note on the climate may prove interesting. 



The year is divided into rainy season and dry season. In the 



