46 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



the same kind of small spider, either when placed or having 

 crawled on some little eminence, elevate its abdomen, send 

 forth a thread, and then sail away horizontally, but with a 

 rapidity which was quite unaccountable. I thought I could 

 perceive that the spider, before performing the above prepara- 

 tory steps, connected its legs together with the most delicate 

 threads ; but I am not sure whether this observation was 

 correct." 



After communicating with H.M.S. " ]N"arcissus," the flag- 

 ship on the station, which, on account of her size, was 

 obliged to lie about two miles out from Monte Video, we 

 steamed up to the inner roads, and anchored not far from the 

 town, which, built on a rising ground, presents rather a fine 

 appearance from the harbour, the towers and dome of the 

 cathedral forming prominent features of its aspect. In the 

 evening a party of us landed, and spent some hours on shore 

 scrutinising the town, which, constructed in the Spanish 

 style so prevalent in South America — namely, in rectangular 

 blocks — struck us as contrasting very favourably with Eio as 

 regarded the width and cleanness of its streets, which inter- 

 sect each other at right angles. There also appeared to be a 

 much larger proportion of good dwelling-houses and shops, 

 the population seemed to be of a more respectable nature, 

 and there was an entire absence of the negro element, so con- 

 spicuous in the Brazilian capital. In the course of our stroll, 

 which was much appreciated after our late experiences at 

 sea, we were amused by noticing a lamplighter's dog accom- 

 panying his master with a stick in his mouth, at each end of 

 which was a lighted lantern. We visited the cathedral, 

 which occupies a portion of one side of a square planted with 

 paradise-trees, which furnish a grateful shade during the 

 heat of the day, and came to the conclusion that, with the 



