SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 249 



it has two soft wings, two long feelers, and six legs with 

 forked extremities; it is a very destructive insect, as it devours 

 victuals, and makes what remains disgusting from the disagre- 

 able smell which it leaves; it also gets into the trunks of tra- 

 vellers, and destroys linen and books. 



The bees in this part of the world are quite unlike those of 

 England, being nearly as small as the common fly, and of a 

 black colour ; they are armed with stings ; they deposit their 

 honey in the cavities of trees ; the wax is dark brown, sweet, 

 slightly mixed with bitter, and quite fluid. 



There is a kind of ant, called the flying ant; it is almost an 

 inch in length ; the body is divided into two parts, which 

 are united by a slender substance ; on the fore part there are 

 six legs, each of which has three joints ; the head is of a tri- 

 angular form, and has two feelers ; it has four transparent 

 wings of a brown colour. These creatures live under ground 

 in the dry season, but in the wet, the rains drive them from 

 their habitations, when they may be seen in vast swarms fly- 

 ing in the air. 



There are two kinds of flies, called fire flies ; the largest is 

 more than an inch in length, and of a chesnut colour; it has 

 a large head, two feelers, two wings, and six legs. Under 

 the belly is a round luminous patch, and on each side of the 



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