240 ‘The Naturalist in Nicaragua 
insects have of their natural enemies. The horse-flies were 
so bloodthirsty that we could kill them with the greatest ease 
with our hands on the mules’ necks, or if we drove them 
away they would return immediately. As soon, however, 
as a wasp came hawking round, the flies lost their sluggish 
apathy and disappeared amongst the bushes, and I do not 
think that excepting when gorged with blood they would 
easily fall a prey to their pursuers. 
We were joined on the road by a storekeeper on his way to 
Teustepe. He was armed with pistols, which it is the 
fashion to carry in Nicaragua, though many travellers have 
nothing more formidable in their holsters than a spirit flask 
and some biscuits. He talked as usual of threatened revolu- 
tionary risings, but these form the staple conversation 
throughout Central America amongst the middle classes, and 
until they really do break out it is best not to believe in them. 
He told us also that the drought had been very great around 
Teustepe, and that the crops were destroyed by it. 
About three we reached the town, and after buying some 
provisions to take with us, pushed onagain. Below Teustepe 
we crossed the river Malacatoyo which empties into the Lake 
of Nicaragua, and beyond it the road passed over a wild 
alluvial flat with high trees, amongst which we saw a troop 
of white-faced monkeys. 
On the leaves of the bushes there were many curious 
species of Buprestidz, and I struck these and other beetles 
off with my net as I rode along. After one such capture I 
observed what appeared to be one of the black stinging ants 
on the net. It was a small spider that closely resembled an 
ant, and so perfect was the imitation that it was not until I 
killed it that I determined that it was a spider and that I 
had needlessly feared its sting. What added greatly to the 
resemblance was that, unlike other spiders, it held up its two 
fore-legs like antennze, and moved them about just like an 
ant. Other species of spiders closely resemble stinging ants; 
in all of them the body is drawn out long like an ant, and in 
1 [Naturally the example of their chief inspired all the mining officials 
with an ardour for collecting insects; but, when riding with any of 
them through the forest or over the plains, Belt’s trained eyes always 
saw sO many more than the others that a saying arose that his mule 
assisted him by stopping before any specimen he had failed to notice !] 
