148 BLUEFIELDS KIDGE. 



WAX COCCUS. 



March 28th. — Visited Basin-Spring, a romantic 

 little fountain high up on the side of Bluefields 

 mountain. A sugar estate was here formerly, but 

 now the greater part is mere wild forest. On the 

 trunk of a slender Lancewood tree, I found many- 

 small sub- conical bodies closely adhering ; they were 

 of a pale yellow hue, smooth and shining. They 

 were evidently insects allied to those which produce 

 cochineal, lac, and wax. The bodies of these speci- 

 mens, when applied to the flame of a candle, I found 

 to melt into a sort of wax.* 



INVERARY. 



The left branch of the mountain road has in many 

 respects the same character of vegetation as the one 

 already described. It is, however, more frequented, 

 and is therefore less romantic. Considerable tracts of 

 Bamboo occur, and the road side is bordered with 

 large beds of Urena hhata, a pretty Malvaceous 

 flower, with a profusion of pink blossoms. Within 

 the woods is situated a curious limestone cavern of 

 several chambers, which I have described elsewhere. f 

 Farther to the westward, the forest becomes par- 

 ticularly gloomy, and more humid than any other 

 part that I have seen ; hence Ferns and Parasites are 



* These have been since described by my friend Adam White, Esq., 

 F.L.S., in the Annals of Nat. Hist., under the name of Ceroplastes 

 Jamaicensis. 



t Birds of Jamaica, p. 103. 



