283 Information respecting Zoological Travellers, 



middle yellow ; scutel sometimes piceous : elytra yellow-ochre, suture 

 piceous, humeral spot brown ; striae punctured, brown and oblique next 

 the suture: underside black : length l,y line. 



This little insect, which has been confounded with C. pusillus of 

 Fabricius, has a wider and longer thorax and is well distinguished 

 by its dark palpi and channeled face. I always find it in August on 

 grass or herbage, and have never met with any variety as in the al- 

 lied species, which is common on sallows in June. C. ochraceus is 

 abundant at the side of the Avon near St. Vincent's Rocks ; the sand 

 hills, Sandwich ; at Mickleham ; Bungay Common, Suffolk ; and Mr. 

 Dale has met with it near Carisbrook Castle. 



Genus 433. Chrysomela. 



22. SparshalH. Smooth, shining, violaceous ; thorax margined, with a few 

 large punctures on each side : elytra orange colour ; sparingly and irre- 

 gularly punctured, the punctures all black, scutellum and suture also 

 black : length 4 lines. 



Taken near Epping by Mr. Doubleday, and is preserved in the col- 

 lection of the late Mr. J. Sparshall of Norwich. 



XXXIII. — Information respecting Botanical and Zoological 



Travellers. 



Mr. Schomburgk's recent Expedition in Guiana. 

 [Continued from p. 35.] 



It has been suspected that there exists a species of Otter in the 

 rivers of South America which is undescribed. The difficulty con- 

 nected with procuring these animals, and the absence of references to 

 consult whether there were any specific differences between the two 

 species which inhabit the rivers of Guiana and those which are al- 

 ready described, prevents me from giving it as my firm opinion that 

 the Otters of Guiana are identical with Lutra brasiliensis of Ray, 

 and Lutra enudris of F. Cuvier. Naturalists know very little about the 

 habits of the South American Otters, nor is it ascertained that the 

 species which is described by Azara is identical with the Lutra bra- 

 siliensis. The note which I select from my journal, although meagre 

 in itself, may prove nevertheless acceptable, until we have a more per- 

 fect knowledge of their character. 



During our first ascent of the river Essequibo we did not meet any 

 Otters until we had passed the river Siparuni, and approached the 

 island Tambicabo. We saw first only one, swimming like a dog, with 

 the head and neck out of the water ; but more and more made their 



