DIURNAL CYCLE OF PHENOMENA 41 



cofiee, to purchase the fresh provisions for the day. The 

 two hours before breakfast were devoted to ornithology. 

 At that early period of the day the sky was invariably 

 cloudless (the thermometer marking 72° or 73° Fahr.) ; 

 the heavy dew or the previous night's rain, which lay 

 on the moist foliage, becoming quickly dissipated by the 

 glowing sun, which rising straight out of the east, mounted 

 rapidly towards the zenith. All nature was fresh, new 

 leaf and flower-buds expanding rapidly. Some mornings 

 a single tree would appear in flower amidst what was the 

 preceding evening a uniform green mass of forest — a 

 dome of blossom suddenly created as if by magic. The 

 birds were all active ; from the wild-fruit trees, not far 

 off, we often heard the shrill yelping of the Toucans 

 (Rhamphastos vitellinus). Small flocks of parrots flew 

 over on most mornings, at a great height, appearing in 

 distinct relief against the blue sky, always two by two 

 chattering to each other, the pairs being separated by 

 regular intervals ; their bright colours, however, were 

 not apparent at that height. After breakfast we de- 

 voted the hours from 10 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m. to entomology ; 

 the best time for insects in the forest being a little before 

 the greatest heat of the day. We did not find them at 

 all numerous, although of great variety as to species. 

 The only kinds that appeared in great numbers of in- 

 dividuals were ants, termites, and certain species of 

 social wasps ; in the open grounds dragon-flies were also 

 amongst the most abundant kinds of insects. Beetles 

 were certainly much lower in the proportion of individuals 

 to species than they are in England, and this led us to 

 the conclusion that the ants and termites here must per- 

 form many of the functions in nature which in temperate 

 climates are the office of Coleoptera. As to butterflies, 

 I extract the following note from many similar ones in 

 my journal. * On Tuesday, collected 46 specimens, of 

 39 species. On Wednesday, 37 specimens, of 33 species, 

 27 of which are different from those taken on the pre- 

 ceding day.' The number of specimens would be increased 

 if I had reckoned all the commonest species seen, but 

 still the fact is well established, that there is a great 

 paucity of individuals compared with species in both 

 Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. We rarely saw caterpillars. 

 After several years' observation, I came to the conclusion 

 that the increase of these creatures was checked by the 



