Natural History in London. 431 
been on deck to air, and had left a number of small flies (Tyrdphaga casei 
Curt.), which they soon discovered. It was pleasing to see their quick 
and varied evolutions, as they darted through the rigging, and not unfre- 
quently within a few inches of our heads, after the flies. They appeared 
quite cheerful, and chirped with as much glee as if on the margin of a 
pond, and at dusk they took up their lodging in the rigging. They continued 
with us till the 16th; but for the last two or three days appeared much 
weaker, frequently settling within a few inches of the man at the helm, and 
suffering themselves to be taken. 
The fruit and vegetable markets of this place are well supplied. Amongst 
the vegetables I observed excellent cabbage, lettuce, plain parsley, water- 
cress, white radishes (red radishes, but very small), mint, sage, rosemary ; of 
capsicums, the C.d4nnuum, C. gréssum, and C. baecatum, and another small 
yellow species, I think new; of tomatoes, the small red; fruit of the egg 
plant, yams, Conyvolvulus Batatas, and A’rachis hypogee‘a ; of gourds and 
squashes several of the varieties common in England. The fruit is not in 
such variety, as many of them are not in season. I observed the following 
kinds: cocoa-nuts, guavas, jambos (Eugénia Jambos), oranges, very large 
and sweet, rather scarce at present, bananas, and tamarinds. Pine-apples 
are just coming in, two thirds of a dollar each; and of grapes I saw only 
one basket. In all the gardens round the suburbs, the Coreopsis tinctoria 
seenis as universal a favourite as in England. Some of the gardens are laid 
out with some taste, but contain fewer species and varieties than might be 
expected in a country like this. In the public garden, on the road to Ca- 
teta, are some very fine specimens of the indigenous trees; the Salvia 
spléndens seems to be a favourite here, and also the Hibiscus Rosa sinén- 
sis; the latter is in every garden. On my arrival at Balparays, I hope to 
be able to send you something of more interest than the present. In the 
mean time, believe me, Sir, &c.— A. Matthews. Rio de Janeiro, Nov, 23. 
1829. 
Art. II. Natural History in London. 
THE Geographical Society of London. — This Society seems to have been 
originated by John Barrow, Esq., of the Admiralty, a gentleman who, dur- 
ing a long life, seems to have devoted every spare moment of it to the 
advancement of geography; perhaps we should rather say chorography : 
because geography, in the modern sense of the word, includes statistics, 
more or less of natural history, the general history and present state of the 
human species; and, in short, the moral and political, no less than the 
physical state of the earth’s surface. Ata Meeting held May 24th, John 
Barrow, Esq., in the chair, the objects of the Geographical Society were 
declared to be :— 
1. To collect, register, and digest, and to print, for the use of the mem- 
bers and the public at large, in a cheap form, and at certain intervals, such 
new, interesting, and useful facts and discoveries as the Society may have 
in its possession, and may, from time to time, acquire. — 2. To accumulate 
gradually a library of the best books on geography; a selection of the best 
voyages and travels ; a complete collection of maps and charts, from the 
earliest period of rude geographical delineations, to the most improved of 
the present time; as well as all such documents and materials as may con- 
vey the best information to persons intending to visit foreign countries ; it 
being of the greatest utility to a traveller to be aware, previously to his 
setting out, of what has been already done, and what is still wanting, in the 
countries he may intend to visit.— 3. To procure specimens of such instru- 
ments as experience has shown to be most useful, and best adapted to the 
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