MOSQUITOES. 227 



the way and mar the enjoyment. I do not 

 know if butterflies are ever attacked in the pupa 

 state, though I have seen one chrysalis, generally 

 in very exposed places, covered with tufts of 

 hair at each segment as if for protection. 



Most of the forms of insect life are here, many 

 of them causing much annoyance to the collector. 

 Mosquitoes are plentiful and varied, infesting 

 some houses more than others. The small 

 black and white species are very troublesome in 

 the woods, settling down to their feast on my 

 face and hands, whilst the latter are busy with 

 the net, like tiny vampires. I notice that they 

 much prefer my horse to me, and he is some- 

 times covered with them without showing any 

 uneasiness. 



Some of the ants inflict a most painful and 

 burning sting, one of the most painful being 

 given by a small ant with a whitish body, which 

 is always most curiously tilted up on end whilst 

 running. These make their nests in the branches 

 of trees, about the size of a cocoa-nut. They are 

 composed of dead leaves so curiously interwoven 



