104 TRINIDAD. 



dangerous sores, particularly on the toes and soles of the 

 feet. 



Of the coleoptera a few only will be mentioned, viz., the 

 cabbage-palm (Curculio), called here the Groo-groo Worm, of 

 which the larvae are much esteemed by our gourmets; and a 

 longicorn, that lays on young cacao-trees its larvae, which, by 

 devouring its inner bark, cause the plant to die. Some insects 

 of the weevil genus also occasion great damage in the corn, rice, 

 and even in the corn-meal and flour of provision-stores : another 

 species of the same genus attacks books and papers, and renders 

 it an arduous task to keep them in proper order. The bamboo, 

 which is much used for fences and other purposes, is liable to 

 the ravages of coleoptera, and crumbles to dust in a short time 

 under their attacks. The fig-tree, which otherwise grows and 

 thrives well in the colony, is also attacked by another coleop- 

 terous insect, the larva of which is about one inch long, and very 

 much like a caterpillar : it perforates the wood, and takes its 

 lodging in the pith ; if not assiduously watched, the tree soon 

 becomes enfeebled, and yields but scanty and insipid fruit. 

 Other insects deposit their larvae in many of our fruits, such as 

 the guava, the lemon-apple, the sapodilla, the star-apple, sour- 

 sop, sugar-apple, &c. ; but they show a decided preference for 

 the guava, so much so, that seldom is a ripe guava without 

 worms. Some of our vegetables, and particularly the cajan, or 

 pigeon-pea, are also attacked by an insect, the larvae of which 

 eat into the pod and destroy the bean. I should not pass un- 

 noticed the Cane Borers. Insects belonging to various genera 

 go by that name of cane borer, which should be taken as a 

 generic designation for such larvae as actually pierce or bore the 

 canes. Among Coleoptera I may mention a Calandra [Calandra 

 sacchari) and a chrysomelida. I have had the opportunity of 

 particularly observing two borers : one, evidently a Hymenop- 

 tera, which is, I believe, the most common, but not the most 

 destructive. It commonly bores a small hole near a node in the 

 lower portion of a cane, and deepens a furrow which may extend 

 through several internodes. The plant thus bored does not 

 suffer to any great extent : and yet when many canes are thus 

 perforated in a field, the damage done becomes perceptible. The 

 other borer which I have observed is a Lepidoptera, probably a 

 Cosstts, perhaps a Pyrale (Diatrcea sacchari ?) . It attacks the 



