130 



The Natukalist. 



the whistle of a locomotive. Indeed, so remarkable is the resemblance 

 that once or twice since I have returned to England, I have suddenly 

 been recalled to the troj^ic groves by the sound of an extra shrill rail- 

 way whistle at a distance. I have heard it stated that the cicadas 

 sometimes go on trying to out-do each other to such an extent, that 

 at last they burst with the exertion. This fable has evidently arisen 

 from the fact that the empty skins of the pup^, with a split down the 

 thorax, through which the perfect insect has made its exit, are very 

 commonly found attached to the trunks of the trees. 



Before leaving the subject of musicians, I may mention that I have 

 observed that several kinds of caterpillars (species of PeropJiora) have 

 the power of making a low musical note, so low indeed that it can 

 only be heard when close to the ear. In one species (P. mnguinolentii) 

 it is an intermittent note, the intervals varying from one to several 

 seconds. Though the note is so faint, the vibrations can be distinctly 

 felt when the larval case is held in the fingers. In another species the 

 sound is similar to the above, but is continuous, lasting for several 

 seconds at a time. Another again is intermittent as in the first species. 

 Once when I had some of these caterpillars in my room, for several 

 nights I heard this curious note as soon as I laid my head on my 

 pillow. For the first two nights I tried in vain to find out where the 

 sound came from ; but on the third night I discovered a cocoon spun 

 in a fold of the pillow-slip, and on examination it proved to be one of 

 the Perophora caterpillars that had wandered away from his food and 

 taken up his abode in the above situation ! 



And now that we have rested a little, let us pursue our ramble over 

 the next spur, and down into the lovely little valley with its waving 

 fields of maize , between whose stately stalks the ground is sheltered 

 and kept damp by the great leaves of the pumpkin, that already shows 

 promise of a rich harvest of its gigantic golden fruit. As we descend 

 we shall add to our captures at almost every step. Butterflies, beetles, 

 gaily-coloured Hemiptera, grasshoppers, Hymenoptera and Diptera — 

 some of the latter of large size — -meet the eye at every moment, and as 

 we approach the stream that spreads out into a miniature swamp at 

 the bottom, thousands of dragon-flies fire the air and remind us of 

 home, for there is more resemblance between these and our own 

 species than is the case in the other orders. 



And now we will strike off" to the right along that shady lane that 

 leads into the depths of the forest. This is the favourite haunt of two 

 gpecies of Morpho^ M. Hercules and M. Epidroj'Jiis^ both of them giants, 

 and the latter of exquisite beauty. These will be seen in great 



