2966 Correspondence of Mr. Bates. 



conia. Of handsome Nymphalidae I send you numbers of new 

 species, the locality being rich in this family ; there are two new 

 Haeterae, sister of Esmeralda, very beautiful, though I believe known 

 to Europe,* I took for the first time here. In Erycinidae and Theclac, 

 I expect to do much when the forest has been heated by a week's 

 sun ; at present I send you few novelties. You must have patience, 

 as I have, that I do not send you larger collections, and consider the 

 difficulties we have to undergo in this wild, desert country. From 

 Barra to here, the bank of the river is one unbroken mass of dense, 

 tangled forest, utterly impenetrable, destitute of insects, or rather being 

 uniform forest, spread over thousands of square leagues, the few 

 insects, equally spread over it, do not appear in abundance in any one 

 particular spot ; it is therefore only in the immediate vicinity of 

 settlements, where the forest is thinned and threaded with pathways, 

 that any number congregate together; and in travelling from one set- 

 tlement to another the whole time is lost, besides the days lost before 

 embarking and after landing in a new place. The pursuit could not 

 pay, if it were not that the expenses are trifling. My passage here 

 cost me nothing, except a few shillings in provisions, and here I do 

 not spend more than £2 a month ; as to inconveniences, the exquisite 

 pleasure of finding another new species of these lovely creatures, sup- 

 ports one against everything. In the disposal of this little collection, 

 our friends must recollect the distance of the locality, and if there are 

 new things, must give the best price for them. I am without commu- 

 nication of any kind from England since the end of October, when I 

 received yours of August 13th, and am very anxious for the arrival of 

 my countrymen, Messrs. Williams and Bradley, from Para, with the 

 cash you have forwarded for me. I am glad to say I am in capital 

 health, and get along very well with these half-civilized people." 



H. W. Bates. 

 (To be continued). 



Correction of two previous errors. — In the note on birds near Bridgewater (Zool. 

 2848) are two or three errors. Cirl buntings, &c, during " wwpleasant weather" 

 should be "pleasant weather." A small flock of "spotted flycatchers," should be 

 " pied flycatchers." — W. Baker ; Bridgwater, July 3, 1850. 



[I regret the occurrence of these errors, but on reference find both in the MS. — 

 E.N.'] 



* H ret era Andromeda. One specimen in the cabinet of the British Museum. — S. S. 



