247 



CHAP. VL 



INSECTS. 



Owing to tlie combination of heat, moisture, and vegeta- 

 tion, the myriads of insects in Ceylon form one of the 

 characteristic features of the island. In the solitude of 

 the forests there is a perpetual music from their soothing 

 and melodious hum, which frequently swells to a startling 

 sound as the cicada trills his sonorous drum on the sunny 

 bark of some tall tree. At morning the dew hangs in 

 diamond drops on the threads and gossamer which the 

 spiders suspend across every pathway ; and above the 

 pool dragon flies, of more than metaUic lustre, flash in the 

 early sunbeams. The earth teems with countless ants, 

 which emerge from beneath its surface, or make their de- 

 vious highways to ascend to their nests in the trees. 

 Lustrous beetles, with their golden elytra, bask on the 

 leaves, whilst minuter species dash through the air in 

 circles, which the ear can follow by the booming of then' 

 tiny wings. Butterflies of large size and gorgeous colour- 

 ing flutter over the endless expanse of flowers, and 

 frequently the extraordinary sight presents itself of 

 flights of these delicate creatures, generally of a white 

 or pale yellow hue, apparently miles in breadth, and of 

 such prodigious extension as to occupy hours, and even 

 days, uninterruptedly in their passage — whence coming 

 no one knows ; wither going no one can tell.^ As day 



^ Tlie butterflies I have seen in 

 these wonderful migrations in Cey- 

 lon were mostly Callidryas Ililuruc, 

 C. Alcmeone, and C. Pyranthe, with 

 straggling individuals of the genus 



Euploca, E. Coras, and E. Prothoe. 

 Their passage took place in April and 

 May, generally in a north-easterly 

 direction. 



R 4 



