Chap. VII. RIVER MADEIRA. 313 



wise than as modifications of one and the same species ; 

 one produced on the North, the other on the South 

 side of the Amazons. It is worthy of especial mention 

 that here as well as in the cases of P. Lysander and 

 the Heliconii, described in the preceding chapter, 

 the connecting links are found inhabiting distinct locali- 

 ties, and not mingled with the extreme forms which 

 they connect. 



We left Serpa on the 29th of December, in company 

 of an old planter named Senhor Joao Trinidade ; at 

 whose sitio, situated opposite the mouth of the Madeira, 

 Penna intended to spend a few days. Our course on 

 the 29th and 30th lay through nari'ow channels between 

 islands. On the 31st we passed the last of these, and 

 then beheld to the south a sea-like expanse of water, 

 where the Madeira, the gi'eatest tributary of the 

 Amazons, after 2000 miles of course, blends its waters 

 with those of the king of rivers. I was hardly pre- 

 pared for a junction of waters on so vast a scale as 

 this, now nearly 900 miles from the sea. Whilst 

 travelling week after week along the somewhat mono- 

 tonous stream, often hemmed in between islands, and 

 becoming thoroughly familiar with it, my sense of 

 the magnitude of this vast water system had become 

 gradually deadened ; but this noble sight renewed the 

 first feelings of wonder. One is inclined, in such places 

 as these, to think the Paraenses do not exaggerate 

 much when they call the Amazons the Mediteri'anean 

 of South America. Beyond the mouth of the Madeira, 

 the Amazons sweeps do^vn in a majestic reach, to all 

 appearance not a whit less in breadth before than 



