4398 Natural-History Collectors. 



Tapajos, &c, and I hear from Para that it was destined to go in the 

 ' Isabella Scott,' to sail on the 4th of January. Amongst its contents 

 is a large number of new species of all orders, and some very nice 

 series of new and rare species of Erycinidae. I had indicated a num- 

 ber of sexes paired in the collection ; and as far as regards the Lemo- 

 nias Pythia, and the other plain blue Lemonias, I have since received 

 further confirmation. In my last letter to you 1 sent notes, and I be- 

 lieve expressed myself disappointed at not receiving some promised 

 sketches and names of my species from our friends ; on further re- 

 flection, however, I do not see that I have any right to expect it ; and 

 moreover, since I received the five Catalogues of the British Museum 

 I find any further assistance from friends by letter quite unnecessary, 

 as far as the departments of which the Catalogues treat. I have lots 

 of curious and I think new observations on the Neuroptera, in almost 

 all the families. 



" The rainy season has set in here two months earlier than last 

 year, and with great force : we have deluges of rain. Collecting any- 

 where else except in the dry campos of Santarera is out of the ques- 

 tion : it will very likely clear up earlier, and that will be favourable 

 for ascending the river to Peru. The steamer which struck on a rock 

 in the river, last September, has been freed this week, and will come 

 to Santarem to be repaired : the other steamer will be then disengaged 

 to resume its line on the Upper Amazons to Nanta, and I of course 

 shall take the opportunity. I have just captured several pairs of 

 Pcecilopeplus Batesii in copula. The female has quite a different 

 shaped thorax, rhomboidal, side-angles produced and shining black, 

 more like Sternacanthus. I have taken here lots of new species of 

 larger things, but have done nothing at all in minute Coleoptera this 

 season." 



M. Julien Deby .*— " Floyd County, United States, March 7, 1854. 

 — You will perhaps have been anxious about me, not having received 

 any tidings of my proceedings since I- left Europe, but I will in a very 

 few words explain to you my misfortunes. I was wrecked on the coast 

 of Nova Scotia, losing all my luggage, clothes, money, &c, to the last 

 halfpenny 1 possessed. I was the only passenger on board the unfor- 

 tunate ship. 1 got on to Halifax, where, after working a short time 

 as gardener, I collected the necessary sum to take me on to New 

 York, where I hoped to meet some countrymen of mine who might 



* Communicated l»v Mr. S. Stevens. 



