Page:A narrative of travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro.djvu/203

 1851.3 LAST DAY OF SUMMER. 173

could tell me that the seasons, at such a short distance, differed so completely, and the consequence was that I arrived at Javfta on the very last day of summer.

The winter or rainy season commenced early this year. The river kept rapidly rising. The Indians constantly assured me that it was too soon for the regular rains to commence, — that we should have fine weather again, — the river would fall, and the winter not set in for two or three weeks. However, such was not the case. Day after day the rain poured down ; every afternoon or night was wet, and a little sunshine in the morning was the most we were favoured with. Insects consequently were much more scarce than they otherwise would have been, 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 Javfta would be a most productive station for any per- severing entomologist. I never saw the great blue butterflies, Morpho Jlfene/aus, 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 captured a dozen or twenty a day if I had wanted them. In birds and mammalia I did not do much, for my Indians wanted to get back, and were lazy and would not hunt after them. During my walks in the forest, I myself 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 tubercles {Caiman gibbas), which I skinned and stuffed, much to the amusement of the Indians, half a dozen of whom gazed in- tently at the operation.

Of fish, too, I obtained many new species, as my Indians were out fishing everyday to provide our supper, and I generally had some to figure and describe in the afternoon. I formed a good collection of the smaller kinds in spirits. My drawings here