r surpass them in brilliancy. Their light is redder and
more candle-like, and being alternately emitted and concealed, each of
the tiny vermilion flames performing its part in the aerial mazy dance,
the spectacle is singularly beautiful. In the marshy districts is seen
the large elater, which displays both red and green lights; the red
glare, like that of a lamp, alternately flashing on the beholder, then
concealed as the insect turns his body in flight, but the ruddy
reflection on the grass beneath being constantly visible as it leisurely
pursues its course. Now and then a green light is displayed, and then
the mingling of the two complementary colours, red and green, in the
evolutions of flight, surpasses description. Even the brilliant
elaters, however, will scarcely enable the traveller to find his way
amid the darkness through the forest.

Wallace describes a midnight walk he was compelled to take. He was
barefooted, every moment stepping on some projecting root or stone, or
treading sideways on something which almost dislocated his ankles. Dull
clouds could just be distinguished in the openings amid high-arched,
overhanging trees, but the pathway was invisible. Jaguars, he knew,
abounded, deadly serpents were plentiful, and at every step he almost
expected to feel a cold gliding body under his feet, or deadly fangs in
his leg. Gazing through the darkness, he dreaded momentarily to
encounter the glaring eyes of the jaguar, or to hear his low growl in
the thicket. To turn back or stop were alike useless. Unpleasant
recollections of the fangs of a huge dried snake's head he had just
before examined, would come across his memory; and many a tale of the
fierceness and cunning of the jaguar would not be forgotten. Suddenly
he found his feet in water, and then he had to grope for a narrow bridge
it was necessary to cross. Of its height above the water, or the depth
of the stream, he was utterly ignorant. To walk along a plank four
inches wide, under such circumstances, was a nervous matter. He
proceeded, however, placing one foot before the other, and balancing
steadily his body, till he again felt himself on firm ground. Once or
twice he lost his balance, but happily he was only a foot or two from
the ground and water below--though, had it been twenty it would have
been all the same. Half-a-dozen such brooks and bridges had to be
passed, till at length, emerging from the pitchy shade upon an open
space,