299 



Saman and log wood trees) we came to the Laventil school- 

 house in front of which !^;tands the Savonctta S'ajnndus sp. a 

 large native tree the fruits of which produce a froth when rubbed 

 between the hands ; this reminded me of my school days M'hen 

 we used them instead of soap to wash our mouths and hands 

 after eating mangoes. 



Leading on we reached the tram terminus, and, entering by 

 the wicket gate, got into the Savannah, where the cows were 

 jumping about in the most excitable mannei-, pursued no doubt 

 by the bot fly, whilst the tick bird Cmtophaga ani stood gazing 

 in Avonderment at the infuriated herd — over the green swai-d 

 flew the blue-black wasp Pepsis eJevata in search of prey for its 

 larvae, whilst the ubi(juitous " Quest ce-qu-il dit " SoAirophagus 

 sulphuratns v/as greedily feasting on aerial creatures. 



On reaching the northern wicket gate, thei-e is a small guard 

 house surrounded with crotons ; there I had the good footune to 

 captui'e a beautiful butterfly, the Nymjylicilis orion, commonly 

 known as the " shoemaker." As we left the Savannah and on 

 the Circular Road there wei'e numbers of Dysderus ruficoUis, a 

 beautifully marked hemiptera, always seen in pairs, large black 

 ants Cvyptocerus atratus and a species of Attidoe, imitating very 

 closely the movements of the ant. 



On the right is another pasture at the corner angle of which 

 stands an immense lociist tree Hymencea Courharil which in 

 former days formed the delight of boys, who amused themselves 

 swinging on the massive lianes that hung gracefully from its 

 branches. — As we proceed the Cassia ma.rginata, with its richly 

 coloured purple flowers was in full bloom, hwt the Kigelia ptinnata 

 with long pendant flowers had, unfortunately, already dropped 

 them. 



Nearing the entrance of the " Botanic Gardens " a species of 

 Pandamis, a solitary palm, and a field of Guinea grass from which 

 the whistling of the frogs gave animation to the surrounding 

 scenery, concludes that part of the scenery along the Circular 

 road. 



Entering the main gate of the Garden, by the road leading 

 to the oflice of the Superintendent stands the remarkable Ficus 

 Benjamina the leaves of which closely resemble those of the 

 nutmeg ; on a little elevation beyond it thi-ee immense Saman trees 

 spread their mighty limbs in eveiy direction, shading the ground 

 beneath where Tennis is played ; next to these the whistling willow, 

 the ever crooked Norfolk Island pine and the Melicocca rijnga, 

 the last forming the delight of bees, are the most interesting trees 

 to be seen on that side of the road. On the right a succession of 

 palms amongst which the Ilyophorhe Verschaffeltii, Arenga or 

 wine palm, Attalea Cohune, Pritchardia pacifica, Garyota urens 



