( -^ii ) 



started up the side of a mountain with a native guide to hunt 

 monkeys. The side of the mountain was thickly and finely 

 wooded ; and the ascent, though diflicult and tiring, was made 

 less irksome through the coolness and shade which we enjoyed. 

 While taking a short rest during the climb, my attention was 

 arrested by a sound overhead not unlike that of steam escaping 

 from a small safety-valve. The noise was made by a large 

 beetle, which was soaring around a vine hanging from an 

 immense tree. The movements of the beetle were so rapid 

 that I did not at the time recognise it. Seated on a fallen 

 tree I watched it soaring round and round, giving forth the 

 strange sound that first arrested my attention. It was an 

 interesting sight. Rays of light penetrating the forest foliage 

 caused the large wings to glitter and scintillate with a most 

 beautiful greenish lustre. The insect finally paused in its 

 circling and settled upon the vine high up and out of reach. 

 Even with wings folded it looked very large and formidable. 

 My guide said he could capture it for me, but I bade him wait 

 awhile. The beetle seemed to be digging away a portion of the 

 bark from the vine and to be feeding. I cut away some of the 

 bark, and a white milky juice not unlike that obtained from 

 the rubber-vine trickled forth. The beetle worked hard, small 

 portions of bark fell steadily from above, and soon the breach 

 it had made was clearly visible. Shortly after a smaller beetle 

 appeared, evidently a female, and the male who had been at 

 work on the vine, gave place to the new arrival. The female 

 was soon busy at work, and seemed to be engaged in abstract- 

 ing the juice from the vine. My Bulu guide contrived to cap- 

 ture in a very clever manner the largest of the two insects, 

 which to my surprise and delight proved to be a perfect specimen 

 of Goliathus druryi ^ . I was about to place the beetle in my 

 killing-box, but my guide took it from me and began to fasten 

 a strong piece of native string around the two horny projections 

 on its head. The old man was delighted with my puzzled look, 

 and said he would make the " Indingdang talk," Indingdang 

 being the Bulu name for the beetle, which I am told is very 

 nice to eat. Having made the string fast, the old man whirled 

 the beetle ai*ound in the air. Quickly the wings unfolded from 

 beneath the elytra and a loud sound was given forth, but no 



