Ch. v.] beetles of NOETH FORMOSA. 71 



of view, indicating, as they do, the existence of volcanic 

 action near the surface in this part of Formosa — a circum- 

 stance which we might have been led to expect from the 

 frequent reports of earthquakes, though none occurred while 

 I was in the island. 



These sulphur-springs are not the only springs of the 

 kind in those parts; others are indicated at no great dis- 

 tance. The road to them from the spot where we left our 

 boat ran through a beautiful and highly cultivated district. 

 Besides numerous padi fields situated upon the hiU-sides, 

 and ingeniously irrigated by a series of platforms, down 

 which the water flows from one to the other after the manner 

 of the cascades of St. Cloud, a remarkable feature is an 

 immense pineapple-plantation of many acres in extent, so 

 that the verdure of these hills leaves one unprepared for 

 the fact of subterranean heat finding a vent in such close 

 proximity. 



On the road we were accompanied by a number of 

 children, who for the reward of a few cash, darted out in 

 forays upon the coleopterous insects of the surrounding 

 country. They brought us splendid longicoms, especially 

 the white-spotted Cerosterna punctator, and the equally 

 handsome Batocera Germani, the first of which we had 

 found ia some profusion on the shrubs among the rice-paper 

 hills at Tam-suy. Perhaps the most numerous beetle was a 

 small metallic blue Popilia, and almost equally common was 

 a fine species of green Euchlora, among which was here and 

 there a bronze Mimela of smaller size. Many beautiful 

 yellow Cassidse were among them; but aU partook of a 

 Chinese character and facies. 



About halfway up the ascent we crossed a stream having 

 the character of a mountain torrent, the stones at the bottom 



