57 
can be no doubt that this species feeds on this giant forest tree. One 
of the episodes that one has to get used to in these forests is the crash 
one occasionally hears; it is, probably, one of these enormous raora 
trees falling. After a certain period they, like our elms, seem to get 
rotten at the roots and come thundering down. Immediately behind 
the hotel there was one of these trees, and I was fortunate enough to 
be looking out one afternoon and saw this giant fall without the slightest 
warning. Close by where the M. peleti* was taken, the large brown 
Erycinid Nymphidinni arche was plentiful. Their flight was most 
rapid, and when in the net always made that ominous whirr, the 
result of which often spells wreck. The Papilionidae were repre¬ 
sented by a single specimen of P. parsodes during the fortnight spent 
at Rockstone, and there is no doubt that that family is not to be 
obtained in the wet season, or, at any rate, none but stragglers, for on 
the Potaro I never saw a Papilio at all. On the other hand, the 
Morphinae appear to be at their best at the commencement of the 
rainy season, and I was also informed that I was at the best time for 
the “ big blues,” or “ bonny blues,” as they are variously termed. In 
a general way, however, it may be taken that during the wet season 
the insects, like the vegetation, are in active growth and development, 
and a large majority must be in the larval state. Growth is, however, 
so rapid that sometimes in a month the whole metamorphoses from 
egg to perfect insect are performed. This is especially true of the 
Ueliconinae. It was hard work at Rockstone, getting much during the 
day, and what with perpetual torrential rains at intervals, it was slow 7 
enough to fill in the time. On the slightest break in the weather the 
net and satchel were seized, and a bolt made for one of the forest 
paths. While the sunshine lasted something was generally to be 
taken, though for the most part not actually in the sun itself. 
Evening work with the acetylene lamp was beginning to get 
exciting, especially as members of the attractive and much-sought- 
after family, Syntoinidac’, were getting fairly numerous. From 7 p.m. 
till 11 p.m. was busily occupied in scraping the roof of the verandah. 
A sheet put up behind the lamp did not answer the purpose it serves 
in our Fen country, and I found that in most cases the moths pre¬ 
ferred hiding themselves behind some rafter in the roof. The dazzling 
light of the acetylene may have been too strong, and I am bound to 
confess that from one of the feeble paraffin lamps belonging to the 
establishment, I obtained more specimens than from my glorified 
installation. I find in my diary that I have made a note that Tuesday, 
May 7th, was the best collecting (that is, night collecting) from the start. 
There had been many rumours from the private company w 7 ho are 
responsible for your transit in this part of the country that the large 
stern-wheeled launch would one day make a second trial trip up 
through to Tumatumari, on the Potaro, a large tributary of the 
Essequibo, and it was suddenly decided that the following day the 
trip would be made. 1 had an invitation, so forthwith consented 
to go. We started at 7 a.m. The early part of the trip was 
plain sailing, hut going through the rapids and dodging the rocks 
made us all a little anxious, especially as previously this good craft 
had stranded before the really dangerous places were reached. The 
Crab Falls and Tigri Falls were successfully passed, and as these were 
the chief cause of anxiety, we afterwards settled down a bit, to take in 
the scenery and something else. The picture presented at the falls o\ 
