primitive
fashion. If I mistake not, we too before long will be following their
example, as appearances seem to favour the notion that a fine reef here
extends across the river into Glenrock land opposite. A little further,
and we reached the end of our morning's excursion ; where it was
proposed to breakfast and rest for a couple of hours.
It
was now nearly ten o'clock, and the sun was very hot. We chose a shady
glen on the opposite side of the main river, where the pleasant sound
of falling water, the beauty of the surrounding foliage, and the cool
shelter of ferny rocks, made just the very spot for a delightful dejeuner. Here
we take our mid-day siesta, and watch the butterflies as they come
trooping down the stream; magnificent creatures, radiant in every
brilliant hue, some so large as to measure five or six inches across
their outspread wings, others tiny in size but resplendent in colour.
And how different their motions ! One hurries down, as though he had
important business to transact at Nelumboor, and was afraid he would be
late. Another, being somewhat undecided, flits by in a hesitating kind
of way; whilst a third means pleasure and nothing else—so he hovers
lovingly over a cool fern and enjoys himself. One, being of an
inquiring turn of mind, settled deliberately upon the sketch I was
making, and so fell a victim to his own curiosity. I have frequently
observed the partiality of butterflies for falling water, but have
never seen such a remark-
