Natural-History Collectors. 5561 



Rev. Hamlet Clark. — Petropolis, February 18, 1857. — When 

 my friend Mr. Gray and myself were making arrangements in England 

 for an entomological visit to the province of Rio Janeiro, we experienced 

 difficulty in obtaining information with regard to our proposed col- 

 lecting-ground : it is true several works of travels in the Brazils have 

 been published; one or two of them valuable, but none of them, 

 except that of Spix and Martius, so far as I know, refer to Entomology : 

 a modern work on the Entomology of Brazil is still a desideratum : in 

 the absence, however, of more extended details and larger experience, 

 perhaps a few notes and memoranda as to our localities, and the 

 degree of our success may, if you can find space for them, be of service 

 to future entomologists visiting this beautiful country. 



We arrived in Rio early in December, being the commencement of 

 the rainy as well as hot season; this period of the year was purposely 

 chosen by us, as being, by all accounts, most favourable to insect life. 

 We have now been ten weeks examining the Entomology of different 

 localities in the province, and are able to form some opinion with 

 regard to the climate and insect productions of the country : and first, 

 let me say a few words as to its apparent salubrity. When in 

 England we heard much of the ravages of yellow fever, and since we 

 have been here -this fearful disease has been more prevalent than 

 during any previous season since that of its first appearance : its 

 ravages, however, are confined to the unhealthy parts of the city, and 

 especially perhaps to the shipping : it is on this account real cause for 

 anxiety to residents in Rio, and hence fresh comers should at once, 

 for a time, leave the lowlands near the shores of the bay, where little 

 can be done entomologically ; but to persons residing in the country 

 or in the Organ Mountains there is as little cause for alarm as if they 

 were in England. In all other respects the country still deserves the 

 character it had before the introduction of yellow fever, — that of being 

 one of the most healthy climates in the world. Let the traveller use 

 only ordinary common sense, let him not expose himself unnecessarily 

 to the rays of the sun, be careful to avoid excessive fatigue, and 

 abstain from ardent spirits, then he will, humanly speaking, enjoy as 

 vigorous health here as he has done at any portion of his life. 



The following are localities at present visited by us, which deserve 

 notice as entomological stations: — the Corcovardo Mountain, Pijuca, 

 Constancia, Presidencia and Paraihiba: the two first are immediately 

 above Rio, Constancia and Presidencia, in the Organ Mountains, and 

 Paraihiba on the river of that name. An hour's walk from Botofogo, 

 XV. 2 F 



