4552 Natural-History Collectors. 



Bogota. I wonder how they are captured, if they are like M. Adonis 

 and Hecuba here: about five miles from Santarem these two Morphos 

 and a third very red and orange in colour appeared for a few days at 

 the beginning of the wet season, but they would never descend lower 

 than from 30 to 40 feet. I watched them for hours, until I nearly dis- 

 located my neck with looking up at them. The one Adonis I sent 

 from Para, for my private collection was caught by a lad I employed, 

 by climbing a tree. 



Santarem, April 27, 1854. — By the steamer this month I send a 

 cedar-wood chest containing six boxes of insects, a few specimens of 

 economic Botany, and miscellanies. The insects to be placed with 

 my stock of private collection are those things which I find it most 

 difficult to preserve in this climate ; and by degrees I see I shall have 

 to send the whole of my private collections of other families, which 

 become mouldy here more readily than the others. The collection 

 for sale contains a large lot of ants, with many notes for Mr. F. 

 Smith, a letter, and a collection of Termites, which I have had great 

 trouble to keep from Acari and mould, many having been destroyed: 

 my notes on these I consider important, containing several disco- 

 veries I have made on their habits. The notes might be published in 

 the i Trans. Ent. Soc.' ; if you would get the species drawn, described, 

 and named, they would form a splendid paper ; in fact, I flatter my- 

 self, would attract much the attention of naturalists. The phial with 

 Termites in spirits is in a tin box in the parcel : there is also a speci- 

 men of a species of Orchis (lilac-coloured, but not a Cattleya I think) ; 

 just show it and ask if good ; I am growing one part of it on a tree in 

 my garden. I wrote you last month acknowledging the receipt of 

 your most welcome parcel of letters and box of books, which, up to 

 this date, has been to me a continued intellectual feast, and given me 

 lots of occupation. In the account of the insects I send you now, I 

 have kept the ants and Termites as separate items ; I want to see 

 how they sell ; the British Museum, I think, should have the Ter- 

 mites, if they arrive in good condition ; with the notes I send they 

 become of value. Please to thank Mr. Hanbury on my part for the 

 present of the pamphlets and the hints contained in his two notes. I 

 scarcely expect to find any of the different kinds of balsams of Peru 

 in the Valley of the Amazons, except it is near the eastern foot of the 

 Cordilleras. The present collection I have taken great care to keep 

 free from mould. The ants and other Hymenoptera arc pinned and 



