iSsi.] 



LAST DAY OF SUMMER, 



173 



could tell me that the seasons, at such a short distance, differed 

 so completely, and the consequence was that I arrived at Javita 

 on the very last day of summer. 



The winter or rainy season commenced early this year. The 

 river kept rapidly rising. The Indians constantly assured me 

 that it was too soon for the regular rains to commence, — that 

 we should have fine weather again, — the river would fall, and 

 the winter not set in for two or three weeks. However, such 

 was not the case. Day after day the rain poured down ; every 

 afternoon or night was wet, and a little sunshine in the morning 

 was the most we were favoured with. Insects consequently 

 were much more scarce than they otherwise would have been, 

 and the dampness of the atmosphere rendered it extremely 

 difficult to dry and preserve those that I obtained. How- 

 ever, by perseverance I amassed a considerable number of 

 specimens ; and what gave me the greatest pleasure was, that 

 I almost daily obtained some new species which the Lower 

 Amazon and Rio Negro had not furnished me with. During 

 the time I remained here (forty days), I procured at least forty 

 species of butterflies quite new to me, besides a considerable 

 collection of other orders ; and I am sure that during the dry 

 season Javita would be a most productive station for any per- 

 severing entomologist. I never saw the great blue butterflies, 

 Morpho Menelaus^ M, Heiejior, etc., so abundant as here. In 

 certain places in the road I found them by dozens sitting on 

 the ground or on twigs by the roadside, and could easily have 

 captured a dozen or twenty a day if I had wanted them. In 

 birds and mammalia I did not do much, for my Indians wanted 

 to get back, and were lazy and would not hunt after them. 

 During my walks in the forest, I myself saw wild-pigs, agoutis, 

 coatis, monkeys, numerous beautiful trogons, and many other 

 fine birds, as well as many kinds of serpents. 



One day I had brought to me a curious little alligator of a 

 rare species, with numerous ridges and conical tubercles 

 {Cahjian gibbus)^ which I skinned and stuffed, much to the 

 amusement of the Indians, half a dozen of whom gazed in- 

 tently at the operation. 



Of fish, too, I obtained many new species, as my Indians were 

 out fishing every day to provide our supper, and I generally 

 had some to figure and describe in the afternoon. I formed a 

 good collection of the smaller kinds in spirits. My drawings here 



