78 • JOURNEY FROM CAPE FRIO 



orange-yellow ; but that of the shell generally pale brownish-yellow.. 

 There we saw, on the branches of the bushes, the nest of a kind of 

 wasp, (pelopceus limatiis, Fabr. S. Piez. p. 203,) which is built of 

 earth, and of the size and shape of a pear. On breaking it, five, six, 

 or seven larva3, or full-formed animals, are found scattered in the 

 mass. This kind, if not the same, has a very close affinity to the 

 wasp which Azara describes (a oI. I. p. 173.). It fastens little cells 

 of clay to the walls of buildings and rooms, as may be seen in most 

 of the houses on the east coast of Brazil. I consider this as identical 

 with that species which attaches its nest to branches. 



At our departure the scenery of the country before us appeared 

 particularly pleasing. The verdant plain was enclosed by low, 

 woody eminences : bushes of an uncommonly lively and beautiful 

 green, reminded us of the colours of our European spring. They 

 consisted of a kind of gardenia, here called cuiranna, which is pro- 

 bably a hitherto undescribed species, and grows to a tree, the wood 

 of which may be used for various purposes. Owing to the consider- 

 able distance from the sea, the woods abound with monkeys and 

 game of different kinds. 



The magnificent, sublime, primeval forest, ( mato virgem,) which 

 extends, almost uninterruptedly, from Campos Novos to the river 

 S. Joao, a distance of four leagues, and into the shady recesses of 

 which we here penetrated, deserves to be mentioned in this place. 

 We soon reached a picturesque, marshy spot, thickly surrounded by 

 young cocoa palms, and bushes of heliconia. These form the under- 

 wood, above which tower lofty, wide-spreading, and shadowy forest- 

 trees. The green, blue, and yellow surucua (trogon vlndis, Linn.) 

 was common here, and uttered its call among the thick foliage. We 

 imitated its voice, and soon shot several, both males and females. 

 This is one of the most common birds in all these parts. The forest 

 continued to improve in magnificence, and new and superb flowers 



