

DOWN THE AMAZONS. 357 



another lily growing in this lake, which, though diminu- 

 tive by the side of the Victoria, would be a giant among 

 our water-lilies. The leaf measured more than a foot in di- 

 ameter, and was slightly scolloped around the edge. There 

 were no open flowers, but the closed buds resembled those 

 of our common white water-lilies, and were no larger. 

 The stalk and ribs, unlike those of the Victoria, were 

 quite smooth, and free from thorns. After our visit to 

 the lilies, we paddled in among the trees along the over- 

 flowed margin of the lake, in order that the boatmen 

 might cut down several palms new to us. While waiting 

 under the trees in the boat, we had cause to admire the 

 variety and beauty of the insects fluttering about us ; the 

 large blue butterflies (Morpho), and the brilliant dragon- 

 flies, with crimson bodies and burnished wings, glittering 

 with metallic lustre.* 



January 21s. Obydos. We left Villa Bella yesterday 

 with a large collection of fishes, and some valuable additions 

 to the collection of palms. The general character of the 

 fish collections, both from the river Ramos and the Lago 

 Maximo, shows the faunas to be the same now as when we 

 were here five months ago. Certainly, during this inter- 

 val, migration has had no perceptible influence upon the 

 distribution of life in these waters. Leaving Villa Bella at 

 night, we reached Obydos early this morning. This pretty 

 town is one of the most picturesque in position, on the 



* During my short stay in the neighborhood of Villa Bella and Obydos I was 

 indebted to several residents of these towns for assistance in collecting ; espe- 

 cially to Padre Torquato and to Padre Antonio Mattos. My friend, Mr. Hono- 

 rio, who accompanied me to this point, with the assistance of the Delegado, at 

 Villa Bella, made also a very excellent collection of fishes in this vicinity. At 

 Ohydos Colonel Bentos contributed a very large collection of fishes from the 

 Rio Trombetas. L. A. 



