THE AMAZON DISTRICT. 



329 



of which are separated by rivers, namely, the three species of 

 genus Psophia^ F, crepitajis (Linn.), P. viridis (Spix), and P, 

 leucoptera (Spix). The P, crepitans is the common trumpeter 

 of Guiana; it extends into the interior all over the country, 

 beyond the sources of the Rio Negro and Orinooko, towards 

 the Andes, and down to the Amazon, both east and west of 

 the Rio Negro, but is never found on the south side of the 

 Amazon. 



The P. viridis is found in the forests of Para, at Villa Nova, 

 on the south bank of the Amazon, and up to the Madeira, 

 where it is found at Borba, on the east bank. 



, The P, leucoptera^ a most beautiful white-backed species, 

 is found also on the south bank of the Amazon, at Sao Paulo, 

 at Ega, at Coari, and opposite the mouth of the Rio Negro, 

 but not east of the Madeira, where the green-backed species 

 commences. These birds are all great favourites in the 

 houses of the Brazilians, and all three may sometimes be seen 

 domesticated at Barra, where they are brought by the traders 

 from the different districts in which they are found. They are 

 inhabitants of the dense forests, and scarcely ever fly ; so that 

 we see the reason why the rivers should so sharply divide the 

 species, which, spreading towards each other from different 

 directions, might otherwise become intermingled. It is not 

 improbable that, if the two Brazilian species extend as far as 

 the sources of the Madeira, they may be found inhabiting the 

 same district. 



Of the smaller perching-birds and insects, which doubtless 

 would have afforded many interesting facts corroborative of 

 those already mentioned, I have nothing to say, as my exten- 

 sive collection of specimens from the Rio Negro and Upper 

 Amazon, all ticketed for my own use, have been lost ; and of 

 course in such a question as this, the exact determination 

 of species is everything. 



The two beautiful butterflies, Callithea sapphira and C, 

 Leprieuri^ which were originally found, the former in Brazil, 

 and the latter in Guiana, have been taken by myself on the 

 opposite banks of the Amazon, within a few miles of each 

 other, but neither of them on both sides of that river. 



Mr. Bates has since discovered another species, named after 

 himself, on the south side of the Amazon ; and a fourth, 

 distinct from either of them, was found by me high up in one 



