1896.] EXPEDITION ON THE LOWHR AMAZON. 779 
was found to be very common in holes in the sandy ground. A 
number of these nests were dug up bodily and brought home in 
biscuit-boxes by Mr. Pickard Cambridge, and when duly mounted 
it is hoped that they will prove interesting exhibits in the Museum 
galleries. Scorpions were by no means common, although by dint 
of much searching Mr. Pickard Cambridge managed to secure 
specimens of several species. A number of the somewhat Crab-like 
Phrynide (Pedipalpi) were obtained, and in the campo at Santarem 
I was fortunate enough to dislodge a whole family of Tarantula 
santarensis, Pocock, both young and adults, from an ant-hillock. 
On thrusting a stick down the holes in the nest the ants swarmed 
out in large numbers, accompanied by these strange guests, among 
which was a large yellow Cockroach (Blabera sp.), more usually 
met with in houses. Centipedes were neither very large nor 
particularly common, but a rich harvest of Millipedes was secured, 
and Mr. Pickard Cambridge also obtained several specimens of 
Peripatus. 
Fresuwater Sponexs.—In the branches of bushes and low 
trees lining the western shore of the Rio Negro below Manaos 
two species of freshwater Sponges (Tubella reticulata, Bowerb., 
and Parmula batesii, Bowerb.) were very common, forming spiny 
masses resembling suspended Hedgehogs. At the time of our visit 
the water had scarcely begun to rise, and these Sponges were 
consequently hanging high and dry from five to fifteen feet above 
the surface. In the case of Parmula batesii the sponge network 
was full of blackish seed-like gemmules. Since our return attempts 
have been made to induce some of these to develop by immersion 
in water at various temperatures, but as yet unfortunately without 
success. 
I cannot conclude without a few words of grateful thanks: in 
the first place to Mr. Alexander Siemens, whose never-failing 
kindness to my colleague and myself while on board his ship will 
always be a pleasant memory to both of us, and who, in the midst 
of the numberless cares and anxieties of an important commercial 
undertaking, did everything in his power to make our part of the 
expedition a success ; in the second place to Sir William Flower for 
selecting me to represent the Museum ; and, lastly, to the Trustees 
of the British Museum for granting me the necessary leave of 
absence, which enabled me, if only for a brief space, to cease from 
being what Mr. Wallace has called a “laboratory naturalist,” and 
to get a glimpse of the appearance and habits of birds, and beasts, 
and insects while they are yet living creatures and before they 
become museum specimens. 
