320 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



able to conjecture the origin of the instinct that 

 induces so many species of termites in different parts 

 of the world to construct dwellings in this form, nor 

 what advantage they can derive from it. 



As the Parahyba appeared to be a rapid-flowing 

 stream, it is probable that in following the valley the 

 railway descends considefably before it reaches the 

 point, about eighty miles nofth of Rio, where it abruptly 

 turns away from the river to make its way to the 

 capital. The appearance of the vegetation announced 

 a change of climate, but I did not notice any palms 

 by the way. The country between the Parahyba 

 valley and the coast appears to be an irregular moun- 

 tain tract, nowhere of any great height, with projecting 

 summits rising here and there of the same general 

 character as those already described, and the railway 

 follows a sinuous course so as to select the lowest 

 depressions between the neighbouring bosses of granite. 

 As we wound to and fro, constantly changing our 

 direction amid scenes of increasing loveliness, night 

 closed with that suddenness to which one becomes 

 accustomed in the tropics, and the last part of the 

 way was unfortunately passed in darkness. The 

 approach to Rio must be surpassingly beautiful, but, 

 beyond the fantastic outlines of the surrounding 

 mountains, little could be discerned save the lights of 

 the city, visible for many miles before we reached 

 the railway station. 



After a long drive through paved streets, I reached 

 the English hotel (Carson's), and was curtly informed 

 that the house was full. The next in rank is the 

 Fonda dos Estrangeiros, to which I proceeded, and 



