Cuap. II. & DROPICAL DAY. 31 
a little before the greatest heat of the day. We did not find them at 
all numerous, although of great variety as to species. The only kinds 
that appeared in great numbers of individuals were ants, termites, and 
certain species of social wasps; in the open grounds dragon-flies were 
also amongst the most abundant kinds of insects. Beetles were 
certainly much lower in the proportion of individuals to species than 
they are in England; and this led to the conclusion that the ants and 
termites here must perform many of the functions in nature which in 
temperate climates are the office of Coleoptera. As to butterflies, I 
extract the following note from many similar ones in my journal. “ On 
Tuesday, collected 46 specimens of 39 species. On Wednesday, 37 
specimens of 33 species, 27 of which are different from those taken on the 
preceding day.” ‘The number of specimens would be increased if I had 
reckoned all the commonest species seen; but still the fact is well 
established, that there is a great paucity of individuals compared with 
species in both Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. We rarely saw cater- 
pillars. After several years’ observation, I came to the conclusion that 
the increase of these creatures was checked by the close persecution of 
isectivorous animals, which are excessively numerous in this country. 
The check operates at all periods of life—on the eggs, the larve, and 
the perrect insects. 
The heat increased rapidly towards two o’clock (92° and 93° Fahr.), 
by which time every voice of bird or mammal was hushed; only in 
the trees was heard at intervals the harsh whir of a cicada. ‘The leaves, 
which: were so moist and fresh in early morning, now became lax and 
drooping ; the flowers shed their petals. Our neighbours, the Indian 
and Mulatto inhabitants of the open palm-thatched huts, as we returned 
home fatigued with our ramble, were either asleep in their hammocks or 
seated on mats in the shade, too languid even to talk. On most days 
in June and July a heavy shower would fall some time in the afternoon, 
producing a most welcome coolness. ‘The approach of the rain-clouds 
was after a uniform fashion very interesting to observe. First, the 
cool sea-breeze, which commenced to blow about 10 o’clock, and which 
had increased in force with the increasing power of the sun, would flag 
and finally die away. ‘The heat and electric tension of the atmosphere 
would then become almost insupportabie. Languor and uneasiness 
would seize on every one ; even the denizens of the forest betraying it 
by their motions. White clouds would appear in the east and gather 
into cumuli, with an increasing blackness along their lower portions. 
The whole eastern horizon would become almost suddenly black, 
and this would spread upwards, the sun at length becoming obscured. 
Then the rush of a mighty wind is heard through the forest, swaying 
the tree-tops ; a vivid flash of lightning bursts forth, then a crash of 
thunder, and down streams the deluging rain. Such storms soon cease, 
leaving bluish-black motionless clouds in the sky until night. Meantime 
all nature is refreshed ; but heaps of flower-petals and fallen leaves are 
seen under the trees. Towards evening life revives again, and the 
ringing uproar is resumed from bush and tree. The following morning 
the sun again rises in a cloudless sky, and so the cycle is completed ; 
spring, summer, and autumn, as it were, in one tropical day. The days 
