Chap. IV. GROVES ON THE BEACH. 227 



foot of the high wooded banks of the lake, covered 

 with trees, which, as there is no underwood, form a 

 spacious shady grove. I rambled daily, during many 

 weeks of each successive dry season, along this delightful 

 road. The trees, many of which are myrtles (Eugenia 

 Egaensis of Martius) and wild Guavas (Psidium), with 

 smooth yellow stems, were in flower at this time ; and 

 the rippling waters of the lake, under the cool shade, 

 everywhere bordered the path. The place was the resort 

 of kingfishers, green and blue tree-creepers, purple- 

 headed tanagers, and humming-birds. Birds generally, 

 however, were not numerous. Every tree was tenanted 

 by Cicadas, the reedy notes of which produced that 

 loud, jarring, insect music which is the general accom- 

 paniment of a woodland ramble in a hot climate. One 

 species was very handsome, having wings adorned with 

 patches of bright green and scarlet. It was very common ; 

 sometimes three or four tenanting a single tree, cling- 

 ing as usual to the branches. On approaching a tree 

 thus peopled, a number of little jets of a clear liquid 

 would be seen squirted from aloft. I have often received 

 the well-directed discharge full on my face ; but the 

 liquid is harmless, having a sweetish taste, and is ejected 

 by the insect from the anus, probably in self-defence, 

 or from fear. The number and variety of gaily-tinted 

 butterflies, sporting about in this grove on sunny days, 

 were so great that the bright moving flakes of colour 

 gave quite a character to the physiognomy of the place. 

 It was impossible to walk far without disturbing flocks 

 of them from the damp sand at the edge of the water, 

 where they congregated to imbibe the moisture. They 



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