the naturalist on the river amazons-第4部分

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unction　of　the　river　Guama　with　the　Para。　As　I　have　said　before；　the　forest；　which　covers　the　whole　country；　extends　close　up　to　the　city　streets；　indeed；　the　town　is　built　on　a　tract　of　cleared　land；　and　is　kept　free　from　the　jungle　only　by　the　constant　care　of　the　Government。　The　surface；　though　everywhere　low；　is　slightly　undulating；　so　that　areas　of　dry　land　alternate　throughout　with　areas　of　swampy　ground；　the　vegetation　and　animal　tenants　of　the　two　being　widely　different。　Our　residence　lay　on　the　side　of　the　city　nearest　the　Guama；　on　the　borders　of　one　of　the　low　and　swampy　areas　which　here　extends　over　a　portion　of　the　suburbs。　The　tract　of　land　is　intersected　by　well…macadamised　suburban　roads；　the　chief　of　which；　the　Estrada　das　Mongubeiras　（the　Monguba　road）；　about　a　mile　long；　is　a　magnificent　avenue　of　silk…cotton　trees　（Bombax　monguba　and　B。　ceiba）；　huge　trees　whose　trunks　taper　rapidly　from　the　ground　upwards；　and　whose　flowers　before　opening　look　like　red　balls　studding　the　branches。　This　fine　road　was　constructed　under　the　governorship　of　the　Count　dos　Arcos；　about　the　year　1812。　At　right　angles　to　it　run　a　number　of　narrow　green　lanes；　and　the　whole　district　is　drained　by　a　system　of　small　canals　or　trenches　through　which　the　tide　ebbs　and　flows；　showing　the　lowness　of　the　site。

Before　I　left　the　country；　other　enterprising　presidents　had　formed　a　number　of　avenues　lined　with　cocoanut　palms；　almond　and　other　trees；　in　continuation　of　the　Monguba　road；　over　the　more　elevated　and　drier　ground　to　the　north…east　of　the　city。　On　the　high　ground　the　vegetation　has　an　aspect　quite　different　from　that　which　it　presents　in　the　swampy　parts。　Indeed；　with　the　exception　of　the　palm　trees；　the　suburbs　here　have　an　aspect　like　that　of　a　village　green　at　home。　The　soil　is　sandy；　and　the　open　commons　are　covered　with　a　short　grassy　and　shrubby　vegetation。　Beyond　this；　the　land　again　descends　to　a　marshy　tract；　where；　at　the　bottom　of　the　moist　hollows；　the　public　wells　are　situated。　Here　all　the　linen　of　the　city　is　washed　by　hosts　of　noisy　negresses；　and　here　also　the　water…carts　are　filledpainted　hogsheads　on　wheels；　drawn　by　bullocks。　In　early　morning；　when　the　sun　sometimes　shines　through　a　light　mist；　and　everything　is　dripping　with　moisture；　this　part　of　the　city　is　full　of　life；　vociferous　negroes　and　wrangling　Gallegos；　＇Natives　of　Galicia；　in　Spain；　who　follow　this　occupation　in　Lisbon　and　Oporto；　as　well　as　at　Para＇　the　proprietors　of　the　water…carts；　are　gathered　about；　jabbering　continually；　and　taking　their　morning　drams　in　dirty　wineshops　at　the　street　corners。

Along　these　beautiful　roads　we　found　much　to　interest　us　during　the　first　few　days。　Suburbs　of　towns；　and　open；　sunny　cultivated　places　in　Brazil；　are　tenanted　by　species　of　animals　and　plants　which　are　mostly　different　from　those　of　the　dense　primaeval　forests。　I　will；　therefore；　give　an　account　of　what　we　observed　of　the　animal　world　during　our　explorations　in　the　immediate　neighbourhood　of　Para。

The　number　and　beauty　of　the　birds　and　insects　did　not　at　first　equal　our　expectations。　The　majority　of　the　birds　we　saw　were　small　and　obscurely　coloured；　they　were　indeed　similar；　in　general　appearance；　to　such　as　are　met　with　in　country　places　in　England。　Occasionally　a　flock　of　small　parroquets；　green；　with　a　patch　of　yellow　on　the　forehead；　would　come　at　early　morning　to　the　trees　near　the　Estrada。　They　would　feed　quietly；　sometimes　chattering　in　subdued　tones；　but　setting　up　a　harsh　scream；　and　flying　off；　on　being　disturbed。　Hummingbirds　we　did　not　see　at　this　time；　although　I　afterwards　found　them　by　hundreds　when　certain　trees　were　in　flower。　Vultures　we　only　saw　at　a　distance；　sweeping　round　at　a　great　height；　over　the　public　slaughter…　houses。　Several　flycatchers；　finches；　ant…thrushes；　a　tribe　of　plainly…coloured　birds；　intermediate　in　structure　between　flycatchers　and　thrushes；　some　of　which　startle　the　new…comer　by　their　extraordinary　notes　emitted　from　their　places　of　concealment　in　the　dense　thickets；　and　also　tanagers；　and　other　small　birds；　inhabited　the　neighbourhood。　None　of　these　had　a　pleasing　song；　except　a　little　brown　wren　（Troglodytes　furvus）；　whose　voice　and　melody　resemble　those　of　our　English　robin。　It　is　often　seen　hopping　and　climbing　about　the　walls　and　roofs　of　houses　and　on　trees　in　their　vicinity。　Its　song　is　more　frequently　heard　in　the　rainy　season；　when　the　Monguba　trees　shed　their　leaves。　At　those　times　the　Estrada　das　Mongubeiras　has　an　appearance　quite　unusual　in　a　tropical　country。　The　tree　is　one　of　the　few　in　the　Amazon　region　which　sheds　all　its　foliage　before　any　of　the　new　leaf…buds　expand。　The　naked　branches；　the　sodden　ground　matted　with　dead　leaves；　the　grey　mist　veiling　the　surrounding　vegetation；　and　the　cool　atmosphere　soon　after　sunrise；　all　combine　to　remind　one　of　autumnal　mornings　in　England。　Whilst　loitering　about　at　such　times　in　a　half…oblivious　mood；　thinking　of　home；　the　song　of　this　bird　would　create　for　the　moment　a　perfect　illusion。　Numbers　of　tanagers　frequented　the　fruit　and　other　trees　in　our　garden。　The　two　principal　kinds　which　attracted　our　attention　were　the　Rhamphoccelus　Jacapa　and　the　Tanagra　Episcopus。　The　females　of　both　are　dull　in　colour；　but　the　male　of　Jacapa　has　a　beautiful　velvety　purple　and　black　plumage；　the　beak　being　partly　white；　whilst　the　same　sex　in　Episcopus　is　of　a　pale　blue　colour；　with　white　spots　on　the　wings。　In　their　habits　they　both　resemble　the　common　house…　sparrow　of　Europe；　which　does　not　exist　in　South　America；　its　place　being　in　some　measure　filled　by　these　familiar　tanagers。　They　are　just　as　lively；　restless；　bold；　and　wary；　their　notes　are　very　similar；　chirping　and　inharmonious；　and　they　seem　to　be　almost　as　fond　of　the　neighbourhood　of　man。　They　do　not；　however；　build　their　nests　on　houses。

Another　interesting　and　common　bird　was　the　Japim；　a　species　of　Cassicus　（　C。　icteronotus）。　It　belongs　to　the　same　family　of　birds　as　our　starling；　magpie；　and　rookit　has　a　rich　yellow　and　black　plumage；　remarkably　compact　and　velvety　in　texture。　The　shape　of　its　head　and　its　physiognomy　are　very　similar　to　those　of　the　magpie；　it　has　light　grey　eyes；　which　give　it　the　same　knowing　expression。　It　is　social　in　its　habits；　and　builds　its　nest；　like　the　English　rook；　on　trees　in　the　neighbourhood　of　habitations。　But　the　nests　are　quite　differently　constructed；　being　shaped　like　purses；　two　feet　in　length；　and　suspended　from　the　slender　branches　all　around　the　tree；　some　of　them　very　near　the　ground。　The　entrance　is　on　the　side　near　the　bottom　of　the　nest。　The　bird　is　a　great　favourite　with　the　Brazilians　of　Para　it　is　a　noisy；　stirring；　babbling　creature；　passing　constantly　to　and　fro；　chattering　to　its　comrades；　and　is　very　ready　at　imitating　other　birds；　especially　the　domestic　poultry　of　the　vicinity。　There　was　at　one　time　a　weekly　newspaper　published　at　Para；　called　〃The　Japim〃；　the　name　being　chosen；　I　suppose；　on　account　of　the　babbling　propensities　of　the　bird。　Its　eggs　are　nearly　round；　and　of　a　bluish…white　colour；　speckled　with　brown。

Of　other　vertebrate　animals　we　saw　very　little；　except　of　the　lizards。　These　are　sure　to　attract　the　attention　of　the　newcomer　from　Northern　Europe；　by　reason　of　their　strange　appearance；　great　numbers；　and　variety。　The　species　which　are　seen　crawling　over　the　walls　of　buildings　in　the　city　are　different　from　those　found　in　the　forest　or　in　the　interior　of　houses。　They　are　unpleasant…looking　animals；　with　colours　assimilated　to　those　of　the　dilapidated　stone　and　mud　walls　on　which　they　are　seen。　The　house　lizards　belong　to　a　peculiar　family；　the　Geckos；　and　are　found　even　in　the　best…kept　chambers；　most　frequently　on　the　walls　and　ceilings；　to　which　they　cling　motionless　by　day；　being　active　only　at　night。　They　are　of　speckled　grey　or　ashy　colours。　The　structure　of　their　feet　is　beautifully　adapted　for　clinging　to　and　running　over　smooth　surfaces；　the　underside　of　their　toes　being　expanded　into　cushions；　beneath　which　folds　of　skin　form　a　series　of　flexible　plates。　By　means　of　this　apparatus　they　can　walk　or　run　across　a　smooth　ceiling　with　their　backs　downwards；　the　plated　soles；　by　quick　muscular　action；　exhausting　and　admitting　air　alternately。　The　Geckos　are　very　repulsive　in　appearance。　The　Brazilians　give　them　the　name　of　Osgas；　and　firmly　believe　them　to　be　poisonous；　they　are；　however；　harmless　creatures。　Those　found　in　houses　are　small；　but　I　have　seen　others　of　great　size；　in　crevices　of　tree　trunks　in　the　forest。　Sometimes　Geckos　are　found　with　forked　tails；　this　results　from　the　budding　of　a　rudimentary　tail　at　the　side；　from　an　injury　done　to　the　member。　A　slight　rap　will　cause　their　tails　to　snap　off；　the　loss　being　afterwards　partially　repaired　by　a　new　growth。　The　tails　of　lizards　seem　to　be　almost　useless　appendages　to　these　animals。　I　used　often　to　amuse　myself　in　the　suburbs；　whilst　resting　in　the　verandah　of　our　house　during　the　heat　of　mid…day；　by　watching　the　variegated　green；　brown；　and　yellow　ground…lizards。　They　would　come　nimbly　forward；　and　commence　grubbing　with　their　forefeet　and　snouts　around　the　roots　of　herbage；　searching　for　insect　larvae。　On　the　slightest　alarm；　they　would　scamper　off；　their　tails　cocked　up　in　the　air　as　they　waddled　awkwardly　away；　evidently　an　incumbrance　to　them　in　their　flight。

Next　to　the　birds　and　lizards；　the　insects　of　the　suburbs　of　Para　deserve　a　few　remarks。　The　species　observed　in　the　weedy　and　open　places；　as　already　remarked；　were　generally　different　from　those　which　dwell　in　the　shades　of　the　forest。　In　the　gardens；　numbers　of　fine　showy　butterflies　were　seen。　There　were　two　swallow…　tailed　species；　similar　in　colours　to　the　English　Papilio　Machaon；　a　white　Pieris　（P。　Monuste）；　and　two　or　three　species　of　brimstone　and　orange　coloured　butterflies；　which　do　not　belong；　however；　to　the　same　genus　as　our　English　species。　In　weedy　places　a　beautiful　butterfly；　with　eye…like　spots　on　its　wings　was　common；　the　Junonia　Lavinia；　the　only　Amazonian　species　which　is　at　all　nearly　related　to　our　Vanessas；　the　Admiral　and　Peacock　Butterflies。　One　day；　we　made　our　first　acquaintance　with　two　of　the　most　beautiful　productions　of　nature　in　this　department　namely；　the　Helicopis