General Natural-History Society, 4117 



attending to them on account of the greater interest of a series of 

 twelve hundred species of Diurnes, and new species almost every day. 



" I am almost forgetting more important matters. Since the 10th 

 of March, the Rio Nigro steamer has made its third monthly voyage, 

 and brought news that another steamer would most certainly be put 

 on the line from Barra to Nauta, in Peru, four months hence. I liked 

 to see the show of energy and punctuality this voyage, and therefore 

 think you may conclude that I shall revisit Ega, and go beyond. I 

 expect to do wonders, besides, I have so very much more knowledge 

 of the species : this is my chief reason for writing to you so soon. I 

 have enough to do here until the steamer comes, besides waiting for 

 all the entomological cheap books and papers you can send. Only 

 think ! — since writing on March 10th, I have taken sixty-five new 

 species of Coleoptera, chiefly minute, indeed, but very interesting, 

 such as six species of Echiaster, Erichs. (a genus of Psedinidae), a 

 duplicate of the new Metopias mentioned, besides several specimens 

 of a third species, quite new. Besides these, six new longicorns, two 

 new Megacephalae (only one of each), one of which is undoubtedly 

 M. affinis, Dej. f both very peculiar species of the metallic group; and 

 several new genera and species of Brachinidse from quite new ground. 



" I have now interested an influential head of the Indians ; from 

 him I have at last a clew to the Lepidosiren. He describes it ex- 

 actly ; the Indian name is Tambaki-unboyia, which means the Tam- 

 baki serpent — Tambaki being a very common eatable fish, feeding on 

 fruits in the submerged ygapos which the Lepidosiren frequents, and 

 has scales very similar in appearance to those of the Lepidosiren. 



"H. W. Bates." 



General Natural- History Society. — It has struck me that by a little arrangement 

 between local Natural-History Societies, the science might be much advanced, and fa- 

 cilities be offered for new Societies to be formed : I appeal therefore to all naturalists 

 to assist in carrying out my views. For the first step, we must be indebted to your 

 kindness: it is, to publish in the 'Zoologist' a list of all Natural-History Societies, 

 with the names of the President and Secretary of each : a request from you in the 

 * Zoologist ' would obtain this. This information being obtained, I would suggest 

 that the papers read at one Society should be passed on until all the Societies had read 

 them : this appears to me an excellent way of disseminating knowledge : it would also 

 bind us more together, and give us an interest in each other. Natural History, or ra- 

 ther its friends, appear to be awaking from their torpor ; and I think, by a slight effort, 

 we might now place her in the proper rank. I shall be happy to attend to any com- 

 munication I may receive. — William Thompson; Weymouth, October 15, 1853. 



