394 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 
and purposes, that the Acaras are Sunfishes, the Xipho- 
rhamphus(Pirapucu) Pickerels, and the Curimatas genuine 
Carps. Now, may not a similar relation exist between 
the families of plants belonging to the North and those 
forming the most prominent vegetation of the South ? 
What are the tropical trees which take the place of our 
elms, maples, lindens ? By what families are our oaks, 
chestnuts, willows, poplars, represented under the burning 
sun of the equinoctial regions ? The Rosacea3 in the tem- 
perate and the Myrtaceaa in the tropical regions seem to 
me such botanical equivalents. The family of Rosaceae 
gives to the North its pears, its apples, its peaches, its 
cherries, its plums, its almonds ; in short, all the most 
delicious fruits of the Old World, as well as its most beauti- 
ful flowers. The trees of this family, by their foliage, play 
a distinguished part in the vegetation of the temperate zone, 
and impart to it a character of their own. The Myrtaceaa 
give to the South its guavas, its pitangas, its aracas, the 
juicy plum-like fruit of the swamp-myrtles, many of its 
nuts, and other excellent fruits. This family, including 
the Melastomaceas, abounds in flowering shrubs, like the 
purple Queresma and many others not less beautiful ; 
and some of its representatives, such as the Sapucaia and 
the Brazilian nut-tree, rise to the height of towering trees. 
Both of these families sink to insignificance in the one 
zone, while they assume a dignified port and perform an 
important part in the other. If this investigation be ex- 
tended to the shrubs and humbler plants, I believe the 
botanist who undertakes it will reap a rich harvest." 
The day after to-morrow we leave Para in the Santa Cruz 
for Ceara. It will be like leaving a sort of home to say good 
by to our kind friends in the Rua de Nazareth. We have 
