118 — . 
acid of the siing possesses an antiseptic and preserving pro- 
perty ■ spiders and locusts having been found to retain their 
colours weeks after being stung, even iu moist situations 
under a tropical sun. There is sufficient food for the larva 
till it is ready for the pupa stage. They are said to be deads 
enemies to cockroaches. They have one redeeming quality 
which ought to be generally known. They never attack if 
unmolested, so that ou the approach of one, it should never 
be beaten away as is a common practice, for it is pretty sure 
then to turn and take an active part in the affray. 
boon after we commenced our descent we came upon a 
boulder about 15 by 30 feet and 17 ft. high. It had toppled 
over and was resting on 3 large round stones on the side of 
the hill, thus forming a sort of cave. My attention was at- 
tracted by some ferns growing near the entrance and some 
Lichens on these stones. I crawled in under the boulder on 
hands and knees, and found the whole roof covered with the 
nests of the mason wasps, which were flying in and out in 
numbers, aud I must say, as long as T confined myself to being 
spectator only they left me alone. After I £ot out, I tried to 
detach a nest with a stick, when I was pretty quickly com- 
pelled to beat a retreat, as those belonging to other nests 
untouched, turned out like bees for mutual defence. I however 
escaped being punished for my temerity in intruding into a 
wasp’s family circle unbidden. 
“ Over this boulder was growing in wild luxurience the Piper 
Betel so much used by the Indians for chewing, when mixed 
with lime and areca nut. Still more interesting to us were 
the beautiful Ferns, the Acrostichum repandum, and the Lind - 
saea Biki. All over the mountain sides, growing in, even 
between the boulders was the grand Palm the Stevensonia 
grandifolia. “ A thing of beauty is a joy for ever ” truly, for 
no matter how abundant may be the various members of the 
Palm family, one never wearies of them, but looks up at them 
ever with a glad recognition of their wondrous grace and 
beauty. 
“ We soon came to a charming little brook, with a natural 
basin in the rock, and its silver waters worp too tempting to 
