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par! 



daylight which is scarcely distinguishable from the 

 common English Plusia Gamma. Several times I found 

 the Erebus strix expanded over the trunks of trees, to 

 the bark of which it is assimilated in colour. This is one 

 of the largest moths known, some specimens measuring 

 nearly a foot in expanse. Along the narrow paths in the 

 forests, an immense number of clear-winged moths are 

 found in the daytime ; mostly coloured like wasps, bees, 

 ichneumon flies, and other Hymenopterous insects. 

 Some species of the same family have opaque wings, and 

 wear the livery of different species of beetles ; these hold 

 their wings in repose, in a closed position over their 

 bodies, so that they look like the wing-cases of the beetles 

 they deceptively imitate. 



The Libellulidae, or Dragonflies, are almost equally 

 conspicuous with the butterflies in open, sunny places. 

 More than a hundred different kinds are found near Para; 

 the numerous ditches and pools being, doubtless, favour- 

 able to their increase, for the adolescent states of the 

 dragonfly are passed in an element different from that 

 in which the adult exists. The species are not all con- 

 fined to open, sunny places. Some are adapted to live 

 only in the darkest shades of the forest, and these are, 

 perhaps, the most beautiful, being brightly coloured and 

 more delicate in structure than the others. One of them, 

 the Chalcopteryx rutilans, is seen only near the shady 

 rivulets which cross the solitary Magoary road. Its fore- 

 wings are quite transparent, whilst the hind-wings have 

 a dark ground-colour, which glitters with a violet and 

 golden refulgence. All the kinds of dragonflies wage an 

 unceasing war with day-flying winged insects, and I am 

 inclined to think that they commit as much destruction 

 in this way as birds do. I have often observed them 

 chasing butterflies. They are not always successful in 

 capturing them, for some of their intended victims, by a 

 dodging manner of flight, contrive to escape their clutches. 

 When a dragonfly seizes its prey, he retires to a tree, and 

 there, seated on a branch, devours the body at his leisure. 

 The different species consume great quantities of small 

 flies, especially during the brief twilight, when large 

 flocks of the hawk-like creatures congregate to chase 

 them over the swamps and about the tree-tops. 



Bees and wasps are not especially numerous near 

 Para, and I will reserve an account of their habits for a 



