LION-ANT. 



of which are described in such a very amusing vein by 

 Darwin. 



Some parts of the sandy plains of St. Jago are covered 

 with the ingenious pit-falls of the Lion-ant (Myrmecleon 

 formicarius), and I observed that the crowd of little, 

 naked negro-children who were collecting for me, always 

 repeated a peculiar humming kind of song as they 

 scratched the larvae of this cruel tiger of the insect-world 

 from the sand with their fingers ; no doubt a kind of 

 ditty similar to that repeated by English children, when 

 they watch the Lady-bird take flight from their finger. 



Mr. Darwin, whose delightful narrative must always 

 be read with interest and pleasure, has justly described 

 the usual desolate appearance of this island, but I think 

 he has hardly done justice to its yet remaining vegetation. 

 In the course of my rambles, even in the vicinity of 

 Porto Praya, I was much struck by the aspect of many 

 plants, although my eye, not then being accustomed to 

 tropical forms, might have viewed them with an interest 

 too earnest and partial. For, although the island of 

 St. Jago, of a volcanic origin, is covered with a dry and 

 barren soil, yet there may be seen plantations of Coco- 

 Nuts, Plantains, and Tamarinds, with the Pandanus 

 and Palmyra Palms, besides Orange, Pig, and Lemon 

 trees, and Pine-apple plants. Near the village of Ribeira- 

 Grande, I noticed the beautiful and elegant Melia Aze- 

 derach, with its lively panicles of lilac flowers, and small 

 olive-like fruit. 



The Aloes, growing here in large masses, have a very 

 pretty effect when their blossoms are expanded, and, 

 among their large yellow spikes of bell-shaped corollas, 



Q2 



