Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-04-30

being filtered through greenery. The
wide leaves of the wild banana and
the frequent palms give a very tropi-
cal air TO the scenery. Noises are
few: occasionally large bird win ut
ter its call, an iguana will rush
through the rnstiing leaves, or some
monkeys win chatter as they swing
through the creepers overhead. Bril-
liant metallic blue Morpho butterflies
fit silently through the more open
aisles. and the tracks of night wander
ing animals can be seen on the
ground.
The little footprints OF cutias and
pecas are resent on the firmer
ground, and the curious serrated lines
made by the plates OF both croco-
dies and turtles armor occur nearer
the waters edge Ants swarm on the
trees. and nearly all inflict painful
bites. and there are several kinds Of
wasps and bees. which either suspend
their nests from twigs or else build
in rolled up leaves: all would seem to
be the guardians OF orchids and TO do
their utmost to repel the despoiler
Ants as Guardians. ..
Some orchids always have their
roots in ants nests, and one kind.
which subsequently obtained at the
cost of an aching hand. had little
hole at the base Of each pseudo bulb
in which a large black ant had its
habitation and of which 1t proved a
most faithful guardian. The orchid
turned out to be an Oncidium, with
delicate sprays OF yellow flowers
thiekly spotted with chocolate brown.
My companions had been searching
for turtle eggs, but without success.
and we cooked supply Of curry and
rice, and had as dessert plentiful
supply of passion fruit.
1t was six O'Clock and darkness was
falling. made haste to battle at the
brink of the river and then TO get UNI
der my mosquito curtains. And not a
moment too soon AS the light faded
with soft suddenness of the equa-
torial regions, insect life emerged for
its nocturnal loves and Hastings, its
dances. music, flights and battles. And
for many of these revels blood, and
especially human blood, is a longed
for prize. II an incautious hand OF a
restless foot were pressed against the
curtain for a moment, a cloud of mos
quitoes Immediately settled on II and
drove their relentless trunks into the
veins.
No European who has not himself
seen them could credit the myrfads OF
mosquitoes which haunt these forest
streams, and as the few inhabitants o!
these regions are all suffering from
malaria, great care has to be taken.
The noises that all these insects made
seemed to rise and fall In waves of
sound. now becoming Intensely shrill.
now dying away to &C narrative still
ness My companions had fallen
asleep in their hammocks; from the
river we're heard only faint ripping
sounds. and ! composed myself for
sleep. Never was there . greater
deius!on, IL was indeed mutt blanche.
Mysterious scamperings came from
the edge OF the forest above me; a
great splash came from the river and
close at hand something rose, sighed.
moaned and sank Bats squeaked and
blundered against my nets. creeping
things left the river and scuttled
over the sand. It was too dark to see
anything: the sound of all his un-
known activity had curious effect
on the nerves and vivid, stories OF
p-eat snakes. of jaguars and croco
giles came to the mind.