62 To the River Plate and Back 



deep ravines where the sunlight glimmers on the tops 

 of tree-ferns and feathery bamboos, where the monarchs 

 of the forest have clothed themselves in bloom, white, 

 purple, yellow; where birds of gorgeous plumage flash 

 from branch to branch ; where great blue morphos, the 

 jewels of the world of butterflies, gleam like huge 

 sapphires as they lazily float upward and downward 

 and are then lost to view in the deep umbrageous 

 recesses. A glimpse at this world of wonders and the 

 car stops at the entrance to the elevator, which quickly 

 raises us to the outer courtyard of the hotel, which is to 

 be our home for four memorable days. We find our- 

 selves in an abode of comfort, with the forest all about 

 us, but through the setting of its walls of green disclos- 

 ing magnificent views of the distant city, the bay, and 

 the mountains. Here I rejoice at the thought of 

 1 taking mine ease in my inn, ' and here I am happy 

 to find a place from which to sally forth into the 

 tropical "Urwald. ' 



It only took me a minute or two to deposit my 

 impedimenta in my room, to fling open the shutters, 

 and to see that the windows commanded a most noble 

 view, and then to unpack my insect-nets and other 

 paraphernalia of the entomological chase. It was near 

 the middle of the afternoon and rather late for an ento- 

 mological foray, but the temptation could not be resisted. 

 My path led me upward through the grounds of the 

 hotel, amid gardens and orange-groves ; upward through 

 copses and thickets; upward by a path at the end of 

 which I found that an observation-tower had been 

 kindly built ; and climbing its stairway I seated myself, 

 tired of the stiff climb and ready in the warm light of 

 the declining day to yield myself to the enchanting 

 influences of my surroundings. Overhead soared a 



