1831.] 
RIO DE JANEIRO. 
67 
pursue their instinctive habits as nature dictates. The smaller 
tribes are numerous, and are more distinguished for brilliancy of 
plumage than for sweetness of melody. Many varieties of par- 
rots and paroquets are found in the woods, and the orange gar- 
dens are peopled with hummingbirds. 
Of reptiles and insects peculiar to Brazil, the eiiumeration 
would be endless. Venomous snakes, together with toads and 
spiders of enormous magnitude, exist in formidable numbers ; as 
also do scorpions, centipedes, scalopendras, &c. But the great- 
est pest of all is the ant, whose numbers are literally infinite, and 
whose depredations are so serious, that villages and hamlets have 
been nearly undermined by them. Mosquitoes, as we have seen 
and felt, are also numerous, and intolerably annoying ; but the 
butterflies are beautiful beyqnd description, and of great variety. 
With these brief, excursive, and somewhat desultory remarks, 
we will now return to the Potomac, on whose busy decks every 
preparation was on foot for resuming her course to the "far east." 
Wood, water, and other requisites for so long a voyage, were daily 
being received on board, where every thing presented diligence, 
activity, and order. • 
Nearly a fortnight had elapsed since the Potomac first came to 
anchor in the harbour of Rio, when her ofiicers, in return for the 
civilities which they had received from a number of ladies and 
gentlemen on shore, determined to get up a fete for their enter- 
tainment on board the frigate. During her passage from New- ~ 
York, some encouragement had been given to the men in favour 
of forming a small Thespian corps, which might afford occasional 
amusement during the long cruise of circumnavigating the globe. 
To many, it might appear diflicult to procure proper materials for 
such a company among a crew of hardy sailors. But such is not 
the fact. On board of a man-of-war of the, size of the Potomac, 
there are perhaps more men of different avocations, than in any 
village of even twice the number of inhabitants. Indeed, when 
we consider that the crew of such a ship is mostly composed 
of persons who, from desperate circumstances, a roving inclina- 
tion, or from a desire to see the world, as they term it, enlist in 
such an expedition, it is not to be wondered that they comprise 
men of almost every attainment. The profession of an actor is 
always one of doubtful success. Even with the most gifted 
I ■ 
( 
