142 THE VOYAGE. [ch. vi. 



more so) as in England, Hydropori, Hygroti, Hydrobii, 

 Pselaphi, Stapyhlini, Curculio, &c, &c. It is exceedingly 

 interesting observing the difference of genera and species 

 from those which I know ; it is however much less than I 

 had expected. I am at present red-hot with spiders ; they 

 are very interesting, and if I am not mistaken I have al- 

 ready taken some new genera. I shall have a large box to 

 send very soon to Cambridge, and with that I will mention 

 some more natural history particulars." 



" One great source of perplexity to me is an utter igno- 

 rance whether I note the right facts, and whether they are 

 of sufficient importance to interest others. In the one thing 

 collecting I cannot go wrong." 



" Geology carries the day : it is like the pleasure of gam- 

 bling. Speculating, on first arriving, what the rocks may 

 be, I often mentally cry out 3 to 1 tertiary against primi- 

 tive ; but the latter have hitherto won all the bets. So much 

 for the grand end of my voyage : in other respects things 

 are equally flourishing. My life, when at sea, is so quiet, 

 that to a person who can employ himself, nothing can be 

 pleasanter; the beauty of the sky and brilliancy of the 

 ocean together make a picture. But when on shore, and 

 wandering in the sublime forests, surrounded by views more 

 gorgeous than even Claude ever imagined, I enjoy a delight 

 which none but those who have experienced it can under- 

 stand. At our ancient snug breakfasts, at Cambridge, I 

 little thought that the wide Atlantic would ever separate us ; 

 but it is a rare privilege that with the body, the feelings and 

 memory are not divided. On the contrary, the pleasantest 

 scenes in my life, many of which have been in Cambridge, 

 rise from the contrast of the present, the more vividly in 

 my imagination. Do you think any diamond beetle will 

 ever give me so much pleasure as our old friend crux-ma- 

 jor? .... It is one of my most constant amusements to 

 draw pictures of the past ; and in them I often see you and 

 poor little Fan. Oh, Lord, and then old Dash poor thing ! 

 Do you recollect how you all tormented me about his beau- 

 tiful tail ? "[From a letter to Fox.] 



To his sister, June 1833 : 



" I am quite delighted to find the hide of the Megatheri- 

 um has given you all some little interest in my employ- 

 ments. These fragments are not, however, by any means 

 the most valuable of the geological relics. I trust and be- 

 lieve that the time spent in this voyage, if thrown away for 



