AUGUST. 273 



Father. — I lately caught an allied species, but consi- 

 derably larger, of a smooth shining black, but like it in other 

 respects (Gymnodus DrakiiJ. It was in the dusk of the 

 evening, when it came buzzing round the verandah, and 

 at length alighted at my feet. But go on with your forest 

 researches. 



C. — I found, in another rotten tree, several specimens of 

 a large Julus^ or " thousand legs," three inches long, and a 

 quarter of an inch in diameter : it is of a dark purplish red, 

 slow of motion, and, when touched, coils itself up in a circular 

 form, the head in the centre. 



F, — This insect (Julus Marginatus) is considered by 

 the American inhabitants as being highly poisonous if taken 

 into the stomach : I have been told of instances in which a 

 person has accidentally bitten one, and has hardly escaped 

 death. 



C. — There were many groups of a pretty flowering plant, 

 bearing numbers of hanging blossoms, shaped somewhat like 

 a cup, with a long curved tube at the bottom, of a bright 

 yellow, with red spots. Hearing a loud hum, I looked round, 

 and saw a beautiful Humming-bird poising itself before these 

 flowers, inserting its bill for an instant, then whisking to 

 another like lightning ; while I stood motionless, it approach- 

 ed and sucked flowers within a yard of me, but on the least 

 motion it was off to a distance. 



F. — The flower is the Touch-me-not (Impatiens noli- 

 tangere) ; it grows in considerable quantities in wet situa- 

 tions, both in woods and in open places. It is a favourite 

 resort of the Ruby-throat, numbers of which may be seen 

 about a cluster of these flowers on almost every bright warm 

 day. They do not blossom much before this period. 



