H4 RIO PLATA. [CHAP. vm. 



Servant, to Buenos Ayres, but his father objected on the score of the 

 danger alone. Many officers in the army can neither read nor write, 

 yet all meet in society as equals. In Entre Rios, the Sala consisted of 

 only six representatives. One of them kept a common shop, and 

 evidently was not degraded by the office. All this is what would be 

 expected in a new country ; nevertheless the absence of gentlemen by 

 profession appears to an Englishman -something strange. 



When speaking of these countries, the manner in which they have 

 been brought up by their unnatural parent, Spain, should always be 

 borne in mind. On the whole, perhaps, more credit is due for what 

 has been done, than blame for that which may be deficient. It is 

 impossible to doubt but that the extreme liberalism of these countries 

 must ultimately lead to good results. The very general toleration ot 

 foreign religions, the regard paid to the means of education, the freedom 

 of the press, the facilities offered to all foreigners, and especially, as 

 I am bound to add, to every one professing the humblest pretensions 

 to science, should be recollected witlf gratitude by those who have 

 visited Spanish South America, 



December 6th. The Beagle sailed from the Rio Plata, never again ta 

 enter its muddy stream. Our course was directed to Port Desire, on 

 the coast of Patagonia. Before proceeding any further, I will here put 

 together a few observations made at sea. 



Several times when the ship has been some miles off the mouth oi 

 the Plata, and at other times when off the shores of Northern Patagonia, 

 we have been surrounded by insects. One evening, when we were 

 about ten miles from the Bay of San Bias, vast numbers of butterflies, 

 in bands or flocks of countless myriads, extended as far as the eye 

 could range. Even by the aid of a telescope it was not possible to see 

 the space free from butterflies. The seamenccried out " it was snowing 

 butterflies," and such in fact was the appearance. More species than 

 one were present, but the main part belonged to a kind very similar to, 

 but not identical with, the common English Colias edusa. Some moths 

 and hymenoptera accompanied the butterflies ; and a fine beetle 

 (Calosoma) flew on board. Other instances are known of this beetle 

 having been caught far out at sea ; and this is the more remarkable, as 

 the great number of the Carabidae seldom or never take wing. The 

 day had been fine and calm, and the one previous to it equally so, with 

 light and variable airs. Hence we cannot suppose that the insects were 

 blown off the land, but we tnust conclude that they voluntarily took 

 flight. The great bands of the Colias seem at first to afford an instance 

 like those on record of the migrations of another butterfly, Vanessa 

 cardui;* but the presence of other insects makes the case distinct, and 

 even less intelligible. Before sunset a strong breeze sprung up from the 

 north, and this must have caused tens of thousands of the butterflies 

 and other insects to have perished. 



On another occasion, when seventeen miles off Cape Corrientes. I 

 had a net overboard to catch pelagic animals. Upon drawing it up, to 



* LyeU's Principles of Geology," vol lit, p, 63. 



