10 TRAVELS AMONGST THE GREAT ANDES. chap. i. 



see the great Mor])hos sailing in security amongst the hooks 

 and spines of the tropical vegetation, and epiphytals thriving in 

 gloom on stagnant air. But we could not tarry, for the rains 

 had already commenced, and every one advised us to press on.^ 

 . The second night found us at Mufiapamba, a regular stoppiug- 

 place, 1337 feet above the sea, where a hut, called a Tambo, 

 was surrounded by a motley throng of beasts, and bipeds who 

 were practising the revolting habit that is referred to more par- 

 ticularly in Chapter IV.; and we passed an uneasy night in the 

 02)en air upon plank beds, which were the only couches known 

 at this establishment. 



At 7 a.m., on Dec. 1(3, we left the tambo, and crossed to the 

 right bank of a little stream, called the S. Jorge River. The 

 Andes were still invisible, although we were actually upon their 

 lower slopes. Everything was envelo^^ed in mist, and a few 



1 In c-onsequeuce of having been detained for ten days upon the Isthmus of 

 Panama, we only just escaped the coast wet season. The intention to collect 

 at route was abandoned, as we were constantly warned by persons we met on the 

 road that rain was falling heavily on the mountains. 



Amongst the few species secured on the first day's journey, there have been 

 found an undescribed Ant {Cmtiponotim), a Bug {FnoMnimx)^ and two Beetles 

 {EpitrayuH and Prionocalus). These are described and figured in the Supplementary 

 Appendix which is published simultaneously with this volume. 



The Prlonocalun that is described by Mr. H. W, Bates under the name P. 

 trigonodes was picked up close to La Mona. It is one of the larger of known 

 beetles, and being the finest we got during the day I looked at it attentively 

 while putting it into alcohol. It gathered its limbs together, and appeared to 

 expire almost instantaneously, without a struggle. The same happened with 

 nearly everything that was obtained in Ecuador, with lizards, frogs, fish, etc., 

 as well as with insects. 



The genus Prionocalus was founded by Adam White upon specimens received 

 from Mexico. It has also been found in Peru, and some years ago Mr. Water- 

 house described a fine species from Ecuador (locality unknown, but supposed to 

 have been on the eastern or Amazonian side of the Andes) under the name 

 P. Bnckleyi, from specimens collected by the late Mr. Buckley. I obtained P. 

 Buckleyi at the height of about 4000 feet on the Royal road, and subsequently, 

 through a collector, a third species of the genus, which was taken at the height 

 of about 6000 feet, in the country to the west of Quito. 



