SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 3 



surpassed by any with which we were pre- 

 viously acquainted. 



It has been a subject of much regret 

 that the natural history and manners of the 

 numerous species which compose this ex- 

 traordinary little family should be almost 

 unknown; I have, therefore, paid all the 

 attention in my power towards supplying 

 this desideratum, but yet much is still 

 wanting. The first I ever saw alive of these 

 minute creatures was in the yard of the house 

 of Mr. Miller, in Kingston, Jamaica. He 

 had taken his station on a twig of a large 

 tamarind tree, which was close to the house, 

 and overspread part of the yard : where, 

 perfectly indifferent to the number of persons 

 constantly passing within a few yards of him, 

 he spent most of the day. There were few 

 blossoms on the tree, and it was not the 

 breeding season, yet he most pertinaciously 

 kept absolute possession of his dominions ; 



b2 



