184 



WANDERINGS IN 



Third mooii shoiiG bright, I wovild frequently go and stand 



Journey. 



within three yards of a cow, and distinctly see the Capri- 



mulgus catch the flies on its udder. On looking for 

 them in the forest, during the day, I either found them 

 on the ground, or else invariably sitting longitudinally on 

 the branch of a tree, not a-ossivise like all other birds. 



or^MSmi- '^^^^ Wasps, or Maribuntas, are great plagues in these 

 forests, and require the naturalist to be cautious as he 

 wanders up and down. Some make their nests pendent 

 from the branches ; others have them fixed to the un- 

 derside of a leaf. Now, in passing on, if you happen to 

 disturb one of these, they sally forth and punish you 

 severely. The largest kind is blue ; it brings blood where 

 its sting enters, and causes pain and inflammation 

 enough to create a fever. The Indians make a fire under 

 the nest, and after killing, or driving away the old ones, 

 they roast the young grubs in the comb and eat them. 

 I tried them once by way of desert after dinner, but my 

 stomach was olfended at their intrusion ; probably it was 

 more the idea than the taste that caused the stomach to 

 rebel. 



Snakes and Time and experience have convinced me that there is 



wad beasts. ^ 



not much danger in roving amongst snakes and wild 

 beasts, provided only that you have self-command. You 

 must never approach them abruptly ; if so, you are sure 

 to pay for your rashness ; because the idea of self-defence 

 is predominant in every animal, and thus the snake, to 



