CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Porto Praya— Ribeira Grande— Dry and clear atmosphere— Effect of lava 

 on a calcareous beach— Habits of Aplysia and Octopus— St. Paul's rocks 

 non-volcanic— Incrustations and stalactites of phosphate of lime — In- 

 sects first colonists — Fernando Noronha — Bahia — Extent of granite — 

 Burnished rocks— Habits of Diodon — Pelagic confervJE, infusoria — 

 Causes of discoloured sea . . . . 1 



CHAPTER n. 



Rio de Janeiro — Excursion nortli of Cape Frio — Great evaporation — 

 Slavery— Botofogo Bay — Terrestrial Planariae— Clouds on Corcovado— 

 Heavy rain— Musical Hyla— Lampyris and its larvae— Elater, springing 

 powersof— Blue haze— Noise of butterfly — Entomology— Ants — Wasp- 

 killing spider — Parasitical spider — Artifices of Epeira — Gregarious 

 spider— Spider with imperfect web. . . .21 



CHAPTER III. 



Monte Video— Maldonado— Excursion to R. Polanco— Lazo and Bolas — 

 Partridges — Geology — Absence of trees — Cervus campestris — River 

 hog— Tucutuco— Molothrus, cuckoo-like habits of— Tyrant-flycatcher 

 — Mocking-bird— Carrion hawks — Tubes formed by lightning — House 

 struck . . . . , .44 



CHAPTER IV. 



Rio Negro — Estancias attacked by Indians — Salt lakes, geological position 

 of —Flamingoes— R. Negro to Colorado — Sacred tree— Patagonian hare 

 —Indian families— General Rosas— Proceed to Bahia Blanca— Sand 

 dunes— Negro lieutenant— Bahia Blanca— Ground incrusted with Glau- 

 ber salt — Punta Alta — Zorillo . . . 74 



CHAPTER V. 



Bahia Blanca — Geology — Extinct quadrupeds, four Edentata, horse, 

 Ctenomys — Recent extinction of — Longevity of species — Large animals 

 do not require luxuriant vegetation— Southern Africa— Siberian fossils 

 — Catalogue of extinct quadrupeds of South America — Two species of 

 Ostrich, habits of— Tinochorus — Oven-bird — Armadilloes — Venomous 

 snake, toad, lizard — Hybernation of animals — Habits of sea-pen — In- 

 dian wars and massacres— Arrow-head, antiquarian relic. . 95 



