1896.] EXPEDITION O^S THB LOWBE AMAZON. 779 



was found to be very common in boles in the sandy ground. A 

 number of these nests were dug up bodily and brought home in 

 biscuit-boxes by Mr. Pickiird 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 

 ot much searching Mr. Pickard Cambridge managed to secure 

 specimens of several species. A number of the somewhat Crab-like 

 Phrynidae (Pedipalpi) were obtained, and in the campo at Santarem 

 I was fortuniite enough to dislodge a whole family of Tarantula 

 saniarensh, Pocock, both young and adults, from an ant-hillock. 

 On tlirusting 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 (Blahera sp.), more usually 

 met v^ith 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. 



FiiF.sn WATEii 8roNGi!S. — In the branches of bushes and low 

 trees lining tlie western shore oF the Kio Negro below Manaos 

 two spocies of freshwater Sponges {Tuhella 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 batesH 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 



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 bis 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. 



