403 
CHAP. XII. 
INSECTS. 
Owing- to the favourable combination of heat, moisture, 
and vegetation, the myriads of insects in Ceylon form 
one of the characteristic features of the island. In the 
solitude of the forests there is a perpetual music from 
their soothing and melodious hum, which frequently 
swells to a startling sound as the cicada trills his sonor- 
ous drum on the sunny bark of some tall tree. At 
morning the dew hangs in diamond drops on the threads 
and gossamer which the spiders suspend across every 
pathway ; and above the pool dragon-flies, of more than 
metallic lustre, flash in the early sunbeams. The earth 
teems with countless ants, which emerge from beneath 
its surface, or make their devious highways to ascend to 
their nests in the trees. Lustrous beetles, with their 
golden elytra, bask on the leaves, whilst minuter species 
dash through the air in circles, which the ear can follow 
by the booming of their tiny wings. Butterflies of 
large size and gorgeous colouring, flutter over the 
endless expanse of flowers, and at times the extra- 
ordinary sight presents itself of flights of these delicate 
creatures, generally of a white or pale yellow hue, ap- 
parently miles in breadth, and of such prodigious* 
extension as to occupy hours, and even days, unin- 
terruptedly in their passage — whence coming no one 
D D 2 
