A MIDNIGHT MARCH. 1 59 



to America was a full-grown male. The proboscis 

 and whole forward part are jet-black, the legs and 

 under parts rich brown, the wing-cases, which cover 

 the back and sides, greenish-olive dotted and streaked 

 with black. It is altogether one of the most attractive 

 entomological specimens I secured during my trip. 



Further search among the leaves revealed several 

 centipedes, which were more to be dreaded than the 

 beetles, as their bites will throw one into a fever. A 

 scorpion, also, was turned out from his lurking-place 

 beneath a log. Both these pests prefer old dwellings 

 and decaying ruins for their abodes, and though not 

 so abundant in Dominica as in Martinique and St. 

 Lucia, are often the cause of alarm, and sometimes 

 of sickness, to the inhabitants. Their bites rarely 

 prove fatal. 



To escape annoyance from these insects, I always, 

 when practicable, slept in my hammock ; they did 

 not then have so open a field, and I only ran the 

 risk of having one drop from the roof or a branch 

 above me. 



Owing to the disturbance just mentioned, we were 

 up long before daylight, and started on the homeward 

 trail before the woods were fairly alight. The " Sun- 

 set bird " (Myiarchus Obcri) sent his tremulous cry 

 through the forest, as we turned our backs upon the 

 boiling springs and commenced descending a gentle 

 plain well studded with trees. We had probably seen 

 the last of our Indian friend, and though we felt rather 

 conscience-stricken at leaving him without a farewell, 

 we reflected that his seclusion was of his own 

 seeking. 



Our yams and tanniers were quite finished, and we 



