62 PARA. Chap. II. 



Lysander^ all velvety black, with patches of gi'een and 

 crimson on their wings. The females of these species do 

 not court the company of the males, but are found slowly 

 flying in places where the shade is less dense. In the 

 moist parts gi-eat numbers of males are seen, often four 

 species together, threading the mazes of the forest, and 

 occasionally rising to settle on the scarlet flowers of 

 climbers near the tops of the trees. Occasionally a stray 

 one is seen in the localities which the females frequent. 

 In the swampiest parts, we saw numbers of the Epicalia 

 ancea, one of the most richly-coloured of the whole tribe 

 of butterflies, being black, decorated with broad stripes 

 of pale blue and orange. It delighted to settle on the 

 broad leaves of the Uranise and similar plants where a 

 ray of sunlight shone, but it was excessively wary, 

 darting off with lightning speed when approached. 



To obtain a fair notion of the number and variety of 

 the animal tenants of these forests, it is necessary to 

 follow up the research month after month and explore 

 them in different directions and at all seasons. During 

 several months I used to visit this district two or three 

 days every week, and never failed to obtain some 

 species new to me, of bird, reptile, or insect. It seemed 

 to be an epitome of all that the humid portions of the 

 Para forests could produce. This endless diversity, the 

 coolness of the air, the varied and strange forms of 

 vegetation, the entire freedom from mosquitos and 

 other pests, and even the solemn gloom and silence, 

 combined to make my rambles through it always plea- 

 sant as well as profitable. Such places are paradises 

 to a naturalist, and if he be of a contemplative turn 



