254 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



patron (according to Lichtenstein and Driesen) had gardens, cages and 

 fish-ponds constructed in Mauritia. Manget further tells us that Count 

 Maurice called himself the disciple of Marcgrave, and as we shall see 

 later, in his hours of leisure took a considerable part in working up 

 these collections. 



In his collecting tours, Marcgrave seems to have pretty thoroughly 

 explored the northeastern part of Brazil, particularly those regions 

 embraced in the present states of Pernambuco, Parahyba and Eio 

 Grande do Norte. How many of these exploratory journeys Marcgrave 

 made is not known, but that he made at least three is certain and for 

 this reason. It seems that from the time of leaving Holland he kept a 

 journal, and that this journal for the years 1638, 1639 and 1640 fell 

 into the hands of the unknown writer in Manget. This man expressly 

 says that the journal for these trips was written up day by day and that 

 he had it in his possession. What became of the journals for the other 

 three and one half years (1641-1644) he did not know. 



The first of these journeys was undertaken on June 21, 1639, and 

 lasted for thirty-nine or forty days. The second, begun on October 20, 

 1640, lasted twenty days. The third and shortest covered the time 

 from December 8 to December 19, 1640. How many other explora- 

 tions Marcgrave made can not be said, but, even if there were no other 

 extended ones, there was no lack of opportunities for studying natural 

 history, since he had but to go outside the city or camp to find himself 

 surrounded by plants and animals new and hitherto unknown to the 

 scientific world. 



It must not be supposed, however, that, because the jungle could be 

 reached in a short distance from the camps, it was easy to see, much 

 less to collect, the animals found therein. All explorers and naturalists 

 in the wilds of Brazil have strongly emphasized the fact that one may 

 travel hours and even days through the forests without ever seeing or 

 even hearing bird or beast. This is, of course, due to the very dense 

 vegetation and to the fact that most of the forest dwellers are likewise 

 tree-top dwellers and are found high up in and on the tops of the trees. 

 The wonder is that Marcgrave, in the wild and unsettled condition of 

 the country and with his limited knowledge of the habits of the animals 

 he sought, should have amassed such valuable material. That he let 

 slip no opportunity to add to his collections and to his observations will 

 be shown later, and it is probable that, having become acclimated and 

 having laid the foundation of an acquaintance with the fauna and flora 

 of Brazil, the years 1641-44 witnessed far more scientific activity on his 

 part than the preceding three years. 



At last the time came (May, 1644) when, his work having been 

 brought to a stop by the preparations of his chief to return to Holland, 

 he determined to go home also. Concerning this matter the unknown 



