DOWN THE AMAZONS. 



of the tropics may produce upon laminated clays of recent 

 origin the same effect as plutonic agencies have produced 

 upon the ancient clays, — that is, it may change them into 

 metamorphic slates. As I approached the serra, I was 

 again reminded how, under the most dissimilar circum- 

 stances, similar features recur everywhere in nature. I 

 came suddenly upon a little creek, bordered with the usual 

 vegetation of such shallow watercourses, and on its bVink 

 stood a sand-piper, which flew away at my approach, utter- 

 ing its peculiar cry, so like what we hear at home that, 

 had I not seen him, I should have recognized him by his 

 voice. After an hour's walk under the scorching sun, I 

 was glad to find myself at the hamlet of Erer^, near the 

 foot of the serra, where I rejoined my companions. This 

 is almost the only occasion in all my Amazonian journey 

 when I have passed a day in the pure enjoyment of nature, 

 without the labor of collecting, which in this hot climate, 

 where specimens require such immediate and constant at- 

 tention, is very great. I learned how rich a single day may 

 be in this wonderful tropical world, if one's eyes are only 

 open to the wealth of animal and vegetable life. Indeed, a 

 few hours so spent in the field, in simply watching animals 

 and plants, teaches more of the distribution of life than a 

 month of closet study ; for under such circumstances all 

 things are seen in their true relations. Unhappily, it is not 

 easy to present the picture as a whole ; for all our written de- 

 scriptions are more or less dependent on nomenclature, and 

 the local names are hardly known out of the districts where 

 they belong, while systematic names are familiar to few." 



January Z^th. — On board the "Ibicuhy." Yesterday 

 we parted from our kind hosts, and bade good by to Monte 

 Aldgre. I shall long retain a picture, half pleasant, half sad. 



