105 



at once obtaincd. A round the vigorous shoots, loaded with leaves, 

 and particularly at theii" ramifications, are found large clusters of 

 larvce, covered by a whitisli froth, in constant agitation, and pressing 

 eagerly upon each other in their attempts to apply themselves to the 

 surface of the bark, from which they extract the sap in such quantity 

 as to maintain their bodies in a state of saturated humidity. This sap 

 is afterwards poured out, either through particular organs scattered 

 ovcr the surface of the body, or by means of the common excretory 

 ducts, and forms drops of small size, which are gradually collected 

 into larger drops, and appcar to M. Goudot to escape from the bodies 

 of the larvœ with a rapidity proportioned to the action of the solar 

 rays. The activity of the larvœ is, in fact, increased in a correspon- 

 ding degrce with the increase in the atmospheric température. 

 Towards evening, and when the influence of the solar rays is sensibly 

 diminished, the production of the fluid, 

 thus singularly secreted, is partially 

 suspendcd, and the drops fall slowly ; 

 as night advances, a few rare and 

 tardy drops are heard at distant 

 intervais, until at last the altogether 

 cease, to be again renewcd with the 

 first rays of the morning sun. When 

 fifty or a hundred such clusters 

 of larTce are placed, as often happens, on the same tree, it may well 

 bc imagincd that the sécrétion may become sufficiently copious to 

 assume the appearance of actual rain. 



Sonie idea of the rapidity with which it falls may be obtained from 

 the mode in which M. Goudot collected a bottleful for transmission 

 to the Natural History Society of the JNIauritius. He states that in 

 the beginning of February, he placed under one of the trees in 

 c^uestion a vessel capable of holding about a litre (nearly to an 

 English quart). The mass of larvce selected as purveyors consisted 

 of from sixty to seventy individuals, about half grown ; and the sun 

 being powerful, the drops were very large, and fell in c|uick succession. . 

 He estimâtes that setting aside the loss by evaporation, and by the 

 animais, which drank from the vessel, he could havc filled the bottle 

 in an hour and a half. The limpid character of the water encouraging 

 the belief that it was free from any pernicious qualities, AI. Goudot 

 tastcd it, and found no unpleasant fiavour : he also gave it to some 

 fowls, without producing any inconvenience. When exposed to the 

 air, howevcr, it speedily loses its transparency, and assumes a lemon- 

 coloured tinge. 



'iG. 1. — Larves du Pytelus 

 G'iudoti Benn., à divers stades 

 de développement (Grand, nat.). 



