126 



is a species of Simulia, and is called in the colonies, sand-fly ; the gnat 

 or zancudo of the Spaniards is a Culex. — Schomhurgk on Guiana. 



2. Prioniis cervicornis inhabits the Canuku mountains, and I can 

 confirm the statement of former travellers of its peculiar habit of seizing 

 a branch of a tree or shrub between its powerful serrated mandibles, and 

 of flying round and round with the rapidity of a windmill, till it has 

 succeeded in sawing it quite through. — Id. 



3. Termes destructor. The appearance of swarms of winged ants 

 that darken the air, is the sure harbinger of the rainy season. It is, I 

 believe, the perfect insect of the Termes destructor, or common wood- 

 louse of the West Indies. A large species of winged ant, when roast- 

 ed or boiled, is considered a great delicacy by the Indians, and equal 

 to the grugrii worm, or Calandra Palmarura. — Id. 



4. Insects of Lapland. The woods of Lapland, from the beginning 

 of June to the end of September, are inhabited by almost all the genera 

 of insects common to Sweden. Diptera, and those chiefly of aquatic 

 habits, are especially abundant. Tliis region has many insects pecu- 

 liar to it, which are not, or scarce ever, found in the rest of Lapland. 

 The alpine region has 20 species of Diptera peculiar to it, and 47 com- 

 mon to lower Sweden ; 122 species are fomid in the subalpine and ma- 

 ritime part of Nordland and Finmark, and scarce anywhere else; 518 

 species more or less common in Lapland, but not, or scarce ever, found 

 in Sweden. Excepting the Sargi, some Muscse, Scoevae and Dolicho- 

 pi, all their colours are dark yellow or ferruginous. — ZetterstedVs 

 '■Insecta Lapponica.^ 



5. Papilio Feronia. This butterfly generally frequents the orange 

 groves. Although a high flyer, yet it very frequently alights on the 

 trunks of trees. On these occasions its head is invariably placed 

 downvvards, and its wings are expanded in a horizontal plane, instead 

 of being folded vertically, as is commonly the case. This is the only 

 butterfly which I have ever seen that uses its legs for running. When 

 flying it makes a noise similar to that produced by a toothed wheel 

 passing under a spring catch. The noise was produced at short inter- 

 tervals, and could be distinguished at about twenty yards distance. — 

 Darwhi's ' Voyage of the Beagled 



6. Butterflies. One evening when we were about ten miles from 

 the Bay of San Bias, vast numbers of butterflies, in bands or flocks of 

 countless myriads, extended as far as the eye could range. Even by 

 the aid of a glass it was not possible to see space free from butterflies. 

 More species than one were present, but the main part belonged to a 

 kind very similar to, but not identical with, the common English Co- 



