5650 Natural- History Collectors. 



easily recognised by the sharp spurs on its bark ; and on the leaves 

 of some tree allied to the orange are found several species of Cassidae. 

 Milho, if in the sunshine, deserves examination for the insects that 

 bask on its broad leaves. Coffee produces nothing, and seems to 

 permit nothing even in its neighbourhood. Felled trees often har- 

 bour on their under side, shaded from the glare of the sun, several 

 species ; but logs of wood and stones on the ground are generally un- 

 productive, probably not affording sufficient protection from the fierce 

 heat of mid-day. Of water insects I much regret to say 1 know 

 nothing, assuming, which I do not believe, that species are abundant 

 here. To collect them is at present impossible: the torrents of rain 

 have turned each brook into a formidable stream, and every valley 

 into a quagmire. I have hardly seen a pond or a ditch since 1 left 

 England. 



TRAVELLING APPARATUS. 



All insects must be kept in tin cases, as the only means of protec- 

 tion from their three formidable enemies, "barratas" or cockroaches, 

 ants and damp. It will add much to the convenience of travelling if 

 these cases are made in pairs (about 2 J by 1 Jx lj feet, or to hold sets 

 of Downie's middle-sized boxes), one pair to be the cargo of each 

 mule. Two pairs of these will contain boxes, cases of card-frames, 

 bottles of gum, chloroform, spirits of wine, &c, sufficient for a single 

 coleopterist for a journey of four or five months, for a lepidopterist 

 for three. Each entomologist can best tell what details of apparatus 

 he will require ; he should, however, certainly possess an etna for 

 killing insects by hot water (ours, that we obtained from Messrs. 

 Adams, Haymarket, are strong and serviceable), a couple of short, 

 stout chisels for bark and decaying wood, and a small tin box for 

 keeping insects relaxed and damp, and at the same time secure from 

 cockroaches. Whatever he will be likely to want must be brought 

 from England: nothing, not even gum tragacanth, can be obtained 

 here, except at a vast outlay of patience. 



As to other matters, he will have to walk over all sorts of ground, 

 with a temperature of from 90° to 120° or even more ; therefore stout 

 shoes (or boots, as a protection against snakes, which abound) and 

 light dress will be appreciated. 



Should the entomologist be disposed to travel into the interior, he 

 should, if possible, obtain and follow the advice of some friend who 

 knows the country. Travelling is perfectly safe ; it supplies a never- 

 failino- fund of objects of interest ; it presents no serious inconve- 



