1832. ] PHOSPHORESCENT INSECTS. a9 
The same phenomenon here presented a slightly different appear- 
ance. In this case the cloud was clearly seen to curl over, and 
rapidly pass by the summit, and yet was neither diminished nor 
increased in size. The sun was setting, and a gentle southerly 
breeze, striking against the southern side of the rock, mingled 
its current with the colder air above; and the vapour was thus 
condensed: but as the light wreaths of cloud passed over the 
ridge, and came within the influence of the warmer atmosphere 
of the northern sloping bank, they were immediately redis- 
solved. 
The climate, during the months-of May and June, or the be- 
ginning of winter, was delightful. The mean temperature, from 
observations taken at nine o’clock, both morning and evening, 
was only 72°. It often rained heavily, but the drying southerly 
winds soon again rendered the walks pleasant. One morning, 
in the course of six hours, 1.6 inches of rain fell. As this 
storm passed over the forests which surround the Corcovado, 
the sound produced by the drops pattering on the countless mul- 
titude of leaves was very remarkable; it could be heard at the 
distance of a quarter of a mile, and was like the rushing of a 
great body of water. After the hotter days, it was delicious to 
sit quietly in the garden and watch the evening pass into night. 
Nature, in these climes, chooses her vocalists from more humble 
performers than in Europe. A small frog, of the genus Hyla, 
sits on a blade of grass about an inch above the surface of the 
water, and sends forth a pleasing chirp: when several are to- 
gether they sing in harmony on different notes. I had some 
difficulty in catching a specimen of this frog. The genus Hyla 
has its toes terminated by small suckers; and I found this animal 
could crawl up a pane of glass, when placed absolutely perpen- 
dicular. ‘Various cicade and crickets, at the same time, keep 
up a ceaseless shrill cry, but which, softened by the distance, is 
not unpleasant. Every evening after dark this great concert 
commenced ; and often have I sat listening to it, until my atten- 
tion has been drawn away by some curious passing insect. 
At these times the fireflies are seen flitting about from hedge 
to hedge. On a dark night the light can be seen at about two 
hundred paces distant. It is remarkable that in all the different 
kinds of glowworms, shining elaters, and various marine animals 
