252 
TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. 
\^Iarcli, 
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 persevering entomologist. 
I never saw the great blue butterflies, Morpho Menelaus, 
M, Helenor, 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 cap- 
tured a dozen or twenty a day if I had wanted them. }' 
In birds and mammalia I did not do much, for my In- 1 
dians wanted to get back, and were lazy and would not 
hunt after them. During my walks in the forest, I my- 
self 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 tu- 
bercles {Caiman gihhus), which I skinned and stuffed, 
much to the amusement of the Indians, half-a-dozen of 
whom gazed intently 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 after- _ 
noon. I formed a good collection of the smaller kinds in. 
