Chap. IY. GROVES ON THE BEACH. 227 
foot of the high wooded banks of the lake, covered 
with trees, which, as there is no underwood, form a 
spacious shady grove. I rambled daily, during many 
weeks of each successive dry season, along this delightful 
road. The trees, many of which are myrtles (Eugenia 
Egaensis of Martins) and wild Guavas (Psidium), with 
smooth yellow stems, were in flower at this time ; and 
the rippling waters of the lake, under the cool shade, 
everywhere bordered the path. The place was the resort 
of kingfishers, green and blue tree-creepers, purple- 
headed tanagers, and humming-birds. Birds generally, 
however, were not numerous. Every tree was tenanted 
by Cicadas, the reedy notes of which produced that 
loud, jarring, insect music which is the general accom- 
paniment of a woodland ramble in a hot climate. One 
species was very handsome, having wings adorned with 
patches of bright green and scarlet. It was very common ; 
sometimes three or four tenanting a single tree, cling- 
ing as usual to the branches. On approaching a tree 
thus peopled, a number of little jets of a clear liquid 
would be seen squirted from aloft. I have often received 
the well-directed discharge full on my face ; but the ^ 
liquid is harmless, having a sweetish taste, and is ejected 
by the insect from the anus, probably in self-defence, 
or from fear. The number and variety of gaily-tinted 
butterflies, sporting about in this grove on sunny days, 
were so great that the bright moving flakes of colour 
gave quite a character to the physiognomy of the place. 
It was impossible to walk far without disturbing flocks 
of them from the damp sand at the edge of the water, 
where they congregated to imbibe the moisture. They 
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