42 



PARA 



close persecution of insectivorous animals, which are ex- 

 cessively numerous in this country. The check operates 

 at all periods of life — on the eggs, the larvae, and the 

 perfect insects. 



The heat increased rapidly towards two o'clock (92° 

 and 93° Fahr.), by which time every voice of bird or 

 mammal was hushed ; only in the trees was heard at 

 interva]s the harsh whirr of a cicada. The leaves, which 

 were so moist and fresh in early morning, now became 

 lax and drooping ; the flowers shed their petals ; Our 

 neighbours the Indian and Mulatto inhabitants of the 

 open palm-thatched huts, as we returned home fatigued 

 with our ramble, were either asleep in their hammocks 

 or seated on mats in the shade, too languid even to talk. 

 On most days in June and July a heavy shower would 

 fall some time in the afternoon, producing a most wel- 

 come coolness. The approach of the rain-clouds was 

 after a uniform fashion very interesting to observe. 

 First, the cool sea-breeze, which commenced to blow 

 about 10 o'clock, and which had increased in force with 

 the increasing power of the sun, would flag and finally 

 die away. The heat and electric tension of the atmo- 

 sphere would then become almost insupportable. 

 Languor and uneasiness would seize on every one ; even 

 the denizens of the forest betraying it by their motions. 

 White clouds would appear in the east and gather into 

 cumuli, with an increasing blackness along their lower 

 portions. The whole eastern horizon would become al- 

 most suddenly black, and this would spread upwards, 

 the sun at length becoming obscured. Then the rush 

 of a mighty wind is heard through the forest, swaying 

 the tree-tops ; a vivid flash of lightning bursts forth, 

 then a crash of thunder, and down streams the deluging 

 rain. Such storms soon cease, leaving bluish-black 

 motionless clouds in the sky until night. Meantime all 

 nature is refreshed ; but heaps of flower-petals and 

 fallen leaves are seen under the trees. Towards evening 

 life revives again, and the ringing uproar is resumed 

 from bush and tree. The following morning the sun 

 again rises in a cloudless sky, and so the cycle is com- 

 pleted ; spring, summer, and autumn, as it were, in 

 one tropical day. The days are more or less like this 

 throughout the year in this country. A little difference 

 exists between the dry and wet seasons ; but generally. 



