AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. 2l- 



larg-e dark Cicadcp are common among- the branches^ 

 and the air often resounds with their harsh grating 

 cries, especially towards evening-. On the trunks 

 of various trees along* the path, especially a thorny- 

 stemmed Bombax, the pretty Bulimus papyraceus 

 is common, with an occasional B. Auris-leporis, but 

 I never dinging- my walks was so fortimate as to 

 find any of the more magnificent of the Brazilian 

 landshells, — for example, B. ovalis, a noble species, 

 four or five inches in length, of which I have 

 bought live specimens in the market. 



Some of the lanes, in which, on one occasion I 

 lost my way, about dusk, would have reminded me 

 of those of the south of England on a fine autumnal 

 eve, were it not for the scattered palms and papaw 

 trees in the hedge-rows, and the hedges themselves 

 occasionally consisting of the coffee plant, conceal- 

 ing clumps of banana and sugar-cane. The Cicadse 

 were singing their evening hymn from the branches 

 overhead, and in due time the fire-flies came out in 

 all their glory. 



I had looked forward with eager anticipation to 

 the result of the first dredging of the Voyage. 

 None of the ship's boats could be spared, so I hired 

 one pulled by four negro slaves, who, although 

 strong active fellows, had great objections to 

 straining their backs at the oar, when the dredge 

 was down. No sieve having- been supplied, we 

 M'ere obliged to sift the contents of the dredge 

 through our hands,— a tedious and superficial mode 



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