3900 Notices of New Books. 



when insects are undoubtedly much fewer. If the report is true that 

 a steamer is about to run from Para to beyond Ega, there is a chance 

 of my again visiting the marvellous country of the Upper Amazons. 

 From Santarem there is no conveyance to Ega : to buy a canoe, and 

 go up on one's own account, by easy stages, as you once proposed, 

 has only one difficulty — hands to work it, and that I find nearly im- 

 possible to surmount. Indians cannot be got by any means a poor 

 stranger like myself can command. Considering these things, I think 

 it better not to send me any parcels after the receipt of this : for if I 

 see no chance of being further useful in this country, I shall leave for 

 England about April next ; if I meet with a good chance of going up 

 to Ega, of course I will write to you immediately, to make other 

 arrangements. 



" After all, I think our great difficulty is want of means of travelling 

 liberally. If one could spend £200 or £250 a year, have a handsome 

 canoe, a well-paid pilot, &c, with goods &c. to make liberal presents 

 with, one could go anywhere, and meet with every assistance. 



" An intelligent Spaniard came down from Quito via the Napo the 

 other day. He said the privations of the voyage on the river were 

 such, that to return to Quito he preferred going round by Cape Horn. 

 He came down with the current ; how much worse then would it be 

 to work up against the current, for ten months prisoners in a canoe ! 



"H. W. Bates." 



NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 



' The Annals and Magazine of Natural History] No. 65, dated 



May, 1853. 



This number of the ' Annals' contains the following papers : — 



' On the Occurrence of Palms and Bambus [Bamboos] with Pines 

 and other Forms considered Northern, at considerable elevations 

 in the Himalaya.' By Major Madden, H.E.I.C.S., F.R.S.E., M.R. 

 Dublin Society. 



' On the Genus Pachybathron, and on some new Species of Margi- 

 nella.' By J. S. Gaskoin, Esq. 



1 Remarks upon British Plants.' By Charles C. Babington, M.A., 

 F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. 



