Correspondence of Air. Bates. 2941 



the voyage here, along the banks of the Amazons, the common run of 

 Diurnes differed from those of Para. The Heliconias change most, the 

 common species atObydos differring from those of Para; and again at 

 Serpa the prevailing species differ from those of Obydos. The Papi- 

 lios, Thecla3 and Hesperiae do not differ much from those of Para; but 

 in Erycinidae numbers of new species are to be seen : the result of in- 

 sect collecting here has shown me that the species are not sufficiently 

 different from those of Para to make my voyage remunerative, or to 

 occupy all my time. My plan is to proceed to Ega, engage hunters 

 with the blow-pipe, and see whether I cannot procure five hundred or 

 a thousand bird-skins, besides getting all the entomological novelties 

 of j,he district. Circumstances are now favorable for a naturalist to 

 explore well the country. There are two gentlemen (Messrs. Brad- 

 ley and Williams) trading from Para to the frontiers of Peru, who 

 make a voyage every year, and can convey collections or cash orders. 

 The Indians are at present peaceable (which is only the case when 

 there are no political disturbances in the capital), and the authorities 

 are friendly. The voyage from Para to Ega in the fine season occupies 

 two months. I have now got blow-pipes and poisoned arrows, and 

 shall soon be a dead shot : I expect this is a capital way of killing 

 birds for specimens. Ammunition is cheap ; specimens are perfect ; 

 at present there are no shells, ihe country being unfavourable for 

 them. From Para to Barra there is a great uniformity in the country. 

 Henceforward, either way, we may expect to meet with greater variety 

 and novelty." 



"Ega, Upper Amazons, June 14, 1850. 



" I embarked at Barra on the 26th of March, at 8 o'clock p.m., on 

 board a small river vessel, called a coberta, belonging to a merchant of 

 Ega, whose acquaintance I made in Barra. I bade adieu to my coun- 

 trymen in Barra with regret, as we had spent many pleasant weeks 

 together, and immediately after the Indians weighed anchor, working 

 all night at the oars, so that by daylight in the morning we were out 

 of the Negro, and within the river Solunocus, or Upper Amazons. 

 The difference is very great between the Rio Negro, or Black River, 

 and the Solunocus ; one is a quiet river, broad, and placid as a lake, 

 with clear, black waters and sombre forests ; the other, a turbulent, 

 muddy stream, carrying along in its roaring current a procession of 

 VIII. 2 R 



