M. (TOrhigny's Travels in South America. 297 



Museum of Natural History conceived that it was necessai-y to 

 employ the funds at their disposal (unfortunately somewhat li- 

 mited in amount) for the purpose of obtaining a scientific exa- 

 mination of certain portions of the Asiatic and American Conti- 

 nents. The very important results that were obtained, many 

 years before, from the mission of Lalande, a preparer of zoolo- 

 gical specimens, to the Cape of Good Hope, induced them again 

 to have recourse to a similar appointment. Indeed, there are 

 few travels which have proved equally productive, in so short a 

 time, and at so little expense, to our zoological and zootomical 

 collections ; but it must be admitttJ that they were not equally 

 so in scientific observations. The managers of the Museum 

 were therefore desirous that the expeditions which they were 

 about to send out, should be in a condition to advance the inte- 

 rests of science, not only by collecting new objects, but also by 

 making requisite observations on the places visited. With this 

 view, two journeys were projected at the same time ; one of them 

 to explore the northern parts of India, penetrating as far as pos- 

 sible into the valleys and defiles of the Himalaya ; the other, to 

 collect and make observations on the productions of South Ame- 

 rica, traversing that continent from the shores of the Atlantic to 

 those of the Pacific, and thus comprising Patagonia, Paraguay, 

 and Bolivia, or higher Peru, and a portion of the Andes. The 

 Directors could not, however, conceal from themselves the diffi- 

 culties attending these two enterprises, as they were unable, 

 from the want of sufficient funds, especially at that particular 

 period, to permit the travellers to be suitably accompanied. 

 Indeed, the examination of the interior of a country has many 

 inconveniences not felt by those who explore it by sea. In the 

 latter case, the naturalist has usually one or two associates, and 

 is besides almost always more or less assisted by the officers and 

 others attached to the expedition, whenever the service permits, 

 which is always the case when any halt is made, or the party 

 goes on shore. Along with this aid, the traveller finds an easy 

 transport for the objects which he collects, as he has it in his 

 power to embark them at pleasure. He possesses, either on 

 ship-board or on shore, and in a suitable place, the necessary 

 means for conveniently preparing and preserving specimens. 

 Spirits of wine, or some other preservative liquor, jars, barrels, 



