13 



Messrs. James, Dexter, Hunnewell, Thayer, and Burkhardt ; * to these 

 were added Mr. Bourget, a French naturalist established in Rio Janeiro, 

 whose services Professor Agassiz engaged as preparator during his 

 residence in the region of the Amazons, and also Major Coutinho, 

 a young Brazilian officer belonging to the corps of engineers, and 

 detailed by the Emperor to accompany the expedition. The assistance 

 of Major Coutinho was invaluable throughout* the journey, as he had 

 been eno-a^ed for several years in explorations on the Amazonian riv- 

 ers, and was also well acquainted with the language of the natives. 



The expedition arrived at Para, at the mouth of the River Amazons, 

 on the 11th of August, the steamer having touched at Bahia, Pernam- 

 buco, Ceara,' Maranham, and other ports on the coast. 



On the 20th of August Professor Agassiz started on his long-wished- 

 for trip up the Amazons. Subjoined is a brief paragraph from his 

 own report : — 



" Once in the waters of the great river, I divided my forces in order 

 to survey simultaneously various parts of this vast fresh-water system, wish- 

 ing to ascertain how far the distribution of its inhabitants was local, or 

 whether the same species might be found at the same moment in different 

 parts of the main stream and its tributaries. This precaution led to results 

 which amazed me, though I was in part prepared for it by my knowledge of 

 other aquatic faunae. Not only did I find the number of species in these 

 waters exceeding by thousands all former estimates, but I found their local- 

 ization so precise and definite that new combinations occurred at given 

 intervals along the main stream, while every forest lake and all the lesser 

 watercourses had their special faunae. I neglected no opportunity of verify- 

 ing the accuracy of my results, visiting the same regions at different seasons 

 of the year, repeating my collections that I might have the fullest means of 

 comparison, and, as I have said, stationing my parties at considerable distan- 

 ces in order that, by making simultaneous collections, we should ascertain 

 what was the range of the species. All my young friends — and those I had 

 with me on the Amazons were chiefly volunteer assistants — gave me most 

 hearty and efficient co-operation. Besides rendering much important aid 

 in the general work, and making special collecting excursions on the Rio 

 Tapajos and the Rio Negro, Mr. Dexter prepared a very valuable collection 

 of birds. In his voyage up th River Tapajos he was accompanied by Messrs. 

 James and Talisman ; on that of the Rio Negro by Mr. Talisman alone. 

 Mr. James, in company with Mr. Talisman, ascended the River 19a and the 

 River Yutahy, and brought down very valuable additions to our fishes, while 



* Mr. Burkhardt, the artist of the Expedition, and Professor Agassiz's friend and 

 companion for many years, died shortly after his return to this country, from a disease 

 which, though not contracted in Brazil, was no doubt aggravated by the hot climate of 

 the Amazons, and by his devotion to the work he had undertaken, and which he could 

 not be persuaded to relinquish even after hia health was seriously impaired. 



1 niti~ 



