AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. ^1 



larg-e dark Cicad(p are common amono- the branches^ 

 and the air often resounds with their harsh g-rating* 

 cries_, especially towards evening-. On the trunks 

 of various trees along' the path^ especially a thorny- 

 stemmed Bomhax, the pretty Bulimus papijraceus 

 is common^ wdth an occasional B, Auris'leporis, but 

 I never durhig* my w-alks was so fortunate as to 

 find any of the more magnificent of the Brazilian 

 landshells^ — for example^ B, ovalis, a noble species^ 

 four or ^ve inches in leng'th^ of Avhich I have 

 bought live specimens in the market. 



Some of the lanes^ in which^ on one occasion I 

 lost my w^ay^ about dusk^ would have reminded me 

 of those of the south of Eno-land on a fine autumnal 

 eve^ were it not for the scattered palms and papaw 

 trees in the hedo-e-rows, and the hedgfes themselves 

 occasionally consisting* of the coffee plant^ conceal- 

 ing' clumps of banana and sugar-cane. The Cicadae 

 were singing their evening hymn from the branches 

 overhead^ and in due time the fire-flies came out in 

 all their glory. 



I had looked forward with eager anticipation to 

 the result of the first dredging of the Yoyage. 

 None of the ship's boats could be spared^ so I hired 

 one pulled by four negro slaves^ who^ althougii 

 strong active fellows^ had great objections to 

 straining their backs at the oar, when the dredge 

 was down. No sieve having been supplied, we 

 were oblio'ed to sift the contents of the dredo-e 

 through our hands^— a tedious and superficial mode 



