KIO DE JANEIRO AND ITS ENVIRONS. 75 
word is used to express not only important chains of 
mountains, but all their spurs. Any mountainous eleva- 
tion is a Serra ; but though there is an endless number of 
them between the Serra do Mar and the Serra da Manti- 
queira, these are the two most important chains, running 
parallel with the sea-coast. Between them flows the Para- 
hyba with its many branches. It is important to make col- 
lections here, as the peculiar character of this water basin, 
the many tributaries of which drain the southern water- 
shed of the Serra da Mantiqueira, and the northern water- 
shed of the Serra do Mar, make it of especial interest 
for the naturalist. On account of its neighborhood to 
the sea, it is also desirable to compare its inhabitants 
with those of the many short, disconnected rivers which 
empty into the Atlantic on the other side of the coast 
range. In short, it gives a good opportunity for testing 
those questions of the geographical distribution of living 
beings, as connected with their origin, which Mr. Agassiz 
so strongly urged upon his assistants during our voyage. 
Soon after crossing the Parahyba, the road strikes the 
Parahybuna, a tributary which enters the main river on 
its northern side, nearly opposite the Piabanha. The latter 
part of the journey is less wild than the first half; the 
mountains fall away in somewhat gentler slopes, and do 
not shut in the road with the steep rugged precipices so 
striking in the valley of the Piabanha. But though perhaps 
less picturesque on approaching Juiz de Fora,* the scenery 
is beautiful enough throughout the whole ride to satisfy 
the most fastidious and keep the attention constantly awake. 
We arrived at the end of our journey at about six o'clock, 
and found most comfortable accommodations prepared for 
* In some maps this place is inscribed under the name of Parahybuua. 
