57 



field was established in an extensive plain, ele- 

 vated nearly 200 feet above the level of the 

 ocean, and situated near the middle of the 

 island, in regard both to its length and breadth. 

 This plain is highly fertile, and, with very little 

 exception, is in a complete state of culture. 

 The soil is a deep vegetable mould, which, 

 near the banks of several large rivers that flow 

 through it, is mixed with sand. Here the col- 

 lection of insects was carried on with zeal and 

 perseverance, not only by Dr.Horsfield himself, 

 but by various native assistants, who had been 

 properly trained to this pursuit. His attention, 

 as may be conceived, soon extended itself to all 

 annulose animals, without exception ; and his 

 assistants were, accordingly, instructed to look 

 for them in every situation, and, as far as pos- 

 sible, to leave no place unexamined. During 

 these researches therefore, the party, being 

 provided with all the usual implements of en- 

 tomological collectors, neglected none of the 

 ordinary resorts of insects, such as flowers, de- 

 cayed wood, carcases of dead animals, ponds, &c., 

 and consequently, the collection now in the 

 possession of the East India Company may very 

 fairly be considered as affording a general view 

 of the Entomology of the abovementioned plain. 



