3644 Natural-History Collectors. 



from a Frenchman just come from San Borji, on the Uruguay, that the 

 'old gentleman is alive and well.' Mr. Avelin, at Portalegre, knows 

 him well. When last in the city, Bonpland complained about Hum- 

 boldt's not using him well, making it appear in the account of his tra- 

 vels as if he (Humboldt) had made all the observations, when such was 

 not the case. He was at Portalegre about thirteen months ago. I 

 brought a letter of introduction to him, but was too late. Nearly every 

 one here knows him : I have often been asked if I am going to Signr. 

 Bonpland. The people describe him as being a rather tall man, about 

 eighty years of age ; he keeps a "benda" at San Borji, but follows 

 the profession of Doctor of Medicine as well, and collects plants for 

 the doctors at Monte Video. I think there can be no doubt about his 

 being the Bonpland." 



M. Julian Deby.* — I believe the readers of the ' Zoologist' are not 

 generally aware that one of its former correspondents, M. Deby, a 

 Belgian gentleman, left Brussels last February for the purpose of ex- 

 ploring the Natural History &c. of some portions of Central America 

 which are imperfectly known ; and the results of his investigations will 

 from time to time be forwarded to me for sale. I beg leave to men- 

 tion that I have recently received a letter from him, dated " St. Tho- 

 mas de Guatemala, August 9;" and soon after, three boxes of insects, 

 being his first consignment. Judging from the quality of this small 

 parcel, the investigation is likely to be satisfactory. M. Deby has 

 been rather unfortunate ; for after having explored the rivers Monta- 

 gua, Rio Vicente, Rio San Marcos, Rio Ceja, Rio Cacas, &c, and 

 having camped for several weeks in the forests on the mountains of 

 Sangille, he had collected fifteen boxes of insects (some most beauti- 

 ful) and a pretty collection of humming-bird skins, and returned to St. 

 Thomas to pack and send them off; when his travelling companion, 

 M. Catelle, fell seriously ill, and he had to take care of him : when 

 suddenly he was himself seized with the malignant fever of the coun- 

 try, and had his whole body covered with tumours. He was for six 

 weeks completely laid up, and nearly all the time unconscious ; when 

 he came to himself, his first thought was for his collections: alas! his 

 Indian servant had forgotten to fill up with tar the plates laid under 

 the bench which supported his boxes, and the ants (a small red spe- 

 cies) had devoured every specimen in his collection. He states that 

 he is still weak, and his companion ill, the climate being very bad for 



* Communicated by Mr. S. Stevens. 



