THE TROPICAL ZONE. 233 



It is early morning when we enter the forest, and the 

 same strange medley of sounds which we had before heard 

 at the setting of the sun now greets Kis rising, frogs and 

 toads and chirping grasshoppers and locusts all joining 

 in a harsh chorus with the howling monkeys. No sooner 

 has the risen sun " dispelled the mists which preceded it, 

 than all creatures begin to rejoice in the return of day. 

 The ants and termites issue from their curious dwellings, 

 and the wasps forsake their long hanging nests ; gay but- 

 terflies flutter from flower to flower, or collect on the sunny 

 sand-banks of cool streams ; myriads of the most brilliant 

 beetles buzz in the air, and sparkle like jewels on the fresh 

 green of the leaves or on the odorous flowers ; whilst agile, 

 bright-coloured lizards, dark-coloured poisonous serpents, 

 and harmless ones which exceed in splendour the enamel of 

 the flowers, glide out of the leaves or the hollows of the 

 trees, creep up the stems and bask in the sunshine whilst 

 lying in wait for birds or insects. Squirrels leap from tree 

 to tree; pigeons and other birds leave the branches and 

 wander about on the moist ground; green, blue, and red 

 parrots assemble on the tops of the trees, and fill the air 

 with their screams; whilst the thrush, concealed in the 

 thicket, pours forth her joy in a strain of beautiful melody." 



