62 THE ADVENTURES OF 



our ridiculous postures, and was too confident in his own powers, 

 shared our mishaps, much to the amusement of his young master, 

 who had predicted that such would happen. L'Encuerado, 

 utterly tired out, bethought himself of dragging his basket along 

 the ground, which was so thickly covered with leaves, that he 

 managed it without damaging his load or breaking the bottles. 



At last, we came upon oak vegetation ; and still farther down, 

 tropical plants. Various birds enlivened our journey by their 

 song ; while numbers of brilliant- coloured insects hummed cheer- 

 fully round us. In less than an hour, we had passed from autumn 

 to spring, after having had a glimpse of winter. The creepers 

 very soon obliged us to cut a passage with our machetes; but 

 what was our joy upon perceiving, at the bottom of the ravine, a 

 stream bordered with angelica and water-cress ! 



Thanks to the abundance of materials, our hut was quickly 

 constructed. While I'Encuerado was getting dinner ready, I 

 went to examine the half-rotten trunk of a tree which was lying 

 on the ground. A multitude of insects, of an elegant shape and 

 of a metallic-blue colour, fled at my approach ; they belonged to 

 the numerous Carabus family, the flesh-eating Coleopterce, which 

 are found both in Europe and also in America. 



" Why don't they fly away, instead of running or tumbling 

 over on the ground ? " asked Lucien. 



" Because they are but little used to flying, and are very quick 

 at walking," I answered. 



" papa ! the one I have caught has wetted my fingers, and 

 it feels as if it had burned me." 



" You are right j but you needn't be afraid ; it will not hurt 

 you. Many of the Carabus family, when they are caught, try to 

 defend themselves by throwing out a corrosive liquid; others 

 make a report, accompanied by smoke, which has given them 

 their name of bombardier." 



" What do they find to eat under the bark, in which they 

 must lead a very gloomy life 1 " 



" Larvse and caterpillars ; they are, therefore, more useful than 

 injurious." 



" To what order of insects do they belong ? " 



