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 



