102 PARA. Chap. III. 



bsena. I was, unfortunately, not able to ascertain the 

 exact relation which subsists between these curious 

 snakes and the Saiiba ants. I believe, however, they 

 feed upon the Saiibas, for I once found remains of 

 ants in the stomach of one of them. Their motions are 

 quite peculiar ; the undilatable jaws, small eyes and 

 curious plated integument also distinguish them from 

 other snakes. These properties have evidently some 

 relation to their residence in the subterranean abodes 

 of ants. It is now well ascertained by naturalists, that 

 some of the most anomalous forms amongst Coleopterous 

 insects are those which live solely in the nests of ants, 

 and it is curious that an abnormal form of snakes should 

 also be found in the society of these insects. 



The neighbourhood of Para is rich in insects. I do not 

 speak of the quantity of individuals, which is probably 

 less than one meets with, excepting ants and Termites, in 

 summer days in temperate latitudes ; but the variety, or 

 in other words, the number of species is very gi-eat. It 

 will convey some idea of the diversity of butterflies when 

 I mention that about 700 species of that tribe are found 

 within an hour's walk of the town ; whilst the total 

 number found in the British Islands does not exceed 

 66, and the whole of Europe supports only 390. Some 

 of the most showy species, such as the swallow-tailed 

 kinds, Papilio Polycaon, Thoas, Torquatus, and others, 

 are seen flying about the streets and gardens ; some- 

 times they come through the open windows, attracted 

 by flowers in the apartments. Those species of Papilio 

 which are most characteristic of the country, so conspi- 

 cuous in their velvety-black, green, and rose-coloured 



