86 THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 



we have wandered in our remarks from the settle- 

 ment we had broken in upon, and so it is absolutely 

 necessary to do practically, or we receive the most 

 positive demonstration of their ability to seek out 

 and punish their enemies. When we can obtain the 

 opportunity to examine through the various apart- 

 ments, windings and ramifications of these industri- 

 ous communities, the mind is at once impressed with 

 the stupendous character of their habitations and 

 highways compared relatively with anything ever 

 accomplished by human hands, or contemplated by 

 the mind of man. 



The sun by this time is beclouded, or perhaps 

 is getting down behind a high mountain in the 

 west ; the monkeys have commenced their howlings, 

 and the moths, which are numerous, and often mea- 

 sure three or four inches over the tips of their wings, 

 have started out from their hiding places, while the 

 gaily colored butterflies, so beautiful, and of many 

 varieties, are looking up their night quarters. The 

 music of the insects has ceased, or rather the field is 

 now occupied by another, and differently toned choir, 

 while we start on our way homeward ; but as there 

 is yet time, we will look up a few specimens on our 

 way. The moths are better caught by candle light, 

 and the butterflies have a perplexing habit of keep- 

 ing out of our way, although we would rush almost 

 any where to obtain one of the large blue ones that 

 we so frequently see. So, therefore, we will content 

 ourselves in turning over pieces of wood and stones 

 in search for spiders, and we may turn up a large 



