AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 36"^ 



Mr. Motschiilsky speaks of the Isthmus of Panama, where 

 he eagerly pursued his search after insects : 



" The banks of the Caribbean gulf are formed from swampy 

 (marecages) grounds, reposing on the gigantic corals; the debris 

 of which we see cast up on the shore by the sea; and the same 

 is remarked on the Pacific shores of Panama. It is to be supposed 

 that the Isthmus was lifted up by a sub-marine movement. The 

 mountains of it are composed, on their surfaces, of a very fertile 

 reddisli clay. The streams running from them to the ocean, on 

 both sides of them, are slow. There is very little difference 

 between the levels of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and we 

 hope soon to see this Isthmus traversed by a canal capable of 

 passing ships from sea to sea. The whole length of the canal 

 will not exceed sixty versts." 



I was forced to stay two days at Aspinwall, a place reported 

 to be very unhealthy. A beating rain lasted all day, while 

 burning vapors filled the atmosphere, until a cold fresh gale 

 came in from the sea to give us chills. In spite of all this I 

 searched for insects under the bark of cocoa-nut trees. 



I ought to mention that some of the people of the Isthmus 

 pretend that a nut they call cedron, which grows there, cures the 

 bite of the viper of the country. In spite of the so-called 

 inevitable dangers of travel there, and contrary to the example 

 of being armed with all sorts of pistols, poignards and enormous 

 spurs to secure swift flight on horse back, I armed myself with 

 an umbrella and ragged clothing, and I never met with a man 

 or an animal to prevent my movements and peregrinations. I 

 thank God for preserving me from the pernicious influences of 

 the climate which produces so many diseases. I had, however, 

 nothing to complain of but lassitude and loss of strength, which 

 are the smallest inconveniencies of inter-tropical regions. 



LINN^US AND FABRICIUS. 



"Having occasion to examine the entomological collections 

 of Linnseus and of Banks, in London, and those of Fabricius 

 and Kiel, and those of Lund and Sehestedt, now incorporated in 

 the Royal museum, in Copenhagen, I believe it will be agreeable 



