the naturalist on the river amazons-第48部分

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flower　in　the　dry　months。　Lizards　do　not　become　torpid；　and　insects　are　seen　both　in　the　larva　and　the　perfect　states；　showing　that　the　aridity　of　the　climate　has　not　a　general　influence　on　the　development　of　the　species。　Some　kinds　of　butterflies；　especially　the　little　hairstreaks　（Theclae）；　whose　caterpillars　feed　on　the　trees；　make　their　appearance　only　when　the　dry　season　is　at　its　height。　The　land　molluscs　of　the　district　are　the　only　animals　which　aestivate；　they　are　found　in　clusters；　Bulimi　and　Helices；　concealed　in　hollow　trees；　the　mouths　of　their　shells　closed　by　a　film　of　mucus。　The　fine　weather　breaks　up　often　with　great　suddenness　about　the　beginning　of　February。　Violent　squalls　from　the　west　or　the　opposite　direction　to　the　trade…wind　then　occur。　They　give　very　little　warning；　and　the　first　generally　catches　the　people　unprepared。　They　fall　in　the　night；　and　blowing　directly　into　the　harbour；　with　the　first　gust　sweep　all　vessels　from　their　anchorage；　in　a　few　minutes　a　mass　of　canoes；　large　and　small；　including　schooners　of　fifty　tons　burthen；　are　clashing　together；　pell…　mell；　on　the　beach。　I　have　reason　to　remember　these　storms；　for　I　was　once　caught　in　onemyself；　while　crossing　the　river　in　an　undecked　boat　about　a　day's　journey　from　Santarem。　They　are　accompanied　with　terrific　electric　explosions；　the　sharp　claps　of　thunder　falling　almost　simultaneously　with　the　blinding　flashes　of　lightning。　Torrents　of　rain　follow　the　first　outbreak；　the　wind　then　gradually　abates；　and　the　rain　subsides　into　a　steady　drizzle；　which　continues　often　for　the　greater　part　of　the　succeeding　day。

After　a　week　or　two　of　showery　weather；　the　aspect　of　the　country　is　completely　changed。　The　parched　ground　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Santarem　breaks　out；　so　to　speak；　in　a　rash　of　greenery；　the　dusty；　languishing　trees　gain；　without　having　shed　their　old　leaves；　a　new　clothing　of　tender　green　foliage；　a　wonderful　variety　of　quick…growing　leguminous　plants　springs　up；　and　leafy　creepers　overrun　the　ground；　the　bushes；　and　the　trunks　of　trees。　One　is　reminded　of　the　sudden　advent　of　spring　after　a　few　warm　showers　in　northern　climates；　I　was　the　more　struck　by　it　as　nothing　similar　is　witnessed　in　the　virgin　forests　amongst　which　I　had　passed　the　four　years　previous　to　my　stay　in　this　part。　The　grass　on　the　campos　is　renewed；　and　many　of　the　campo　trees；　especially　the　myrtles；　which　grow　abundantly　in　one　portion　of　the　district；　begin　to　flower；　attracting　by　the　fragrance　of　their　blossoms　a　great　number　and　variety　of　insects；　more　particularly　Coleoptera。　Many　kinds　of　birds；　parrots；　toucans；　and　barbets；　which　live　habitually　in　the　forest；　then　visit　the　open　places。

A　few　weeks　of　comparatively　dry　weather　generally　intervene　in　March；　after　a　month　or　two　of　rain。　The　heaviest　rains　fall　in　April；　May；　and　June；　they　come　in　a　succession　of　showers；　with　sunny；　gleamy　weather　in　the　intervals。　June　and　July　are　the　months　when　the　leafy　luxuriance　of　the　campos；　and　the　activity　of　life；　are　at　their　highest。　Most　birds　have　then　completed　their　moulting；　which　extends　over　the　period　from　February　to　May。　The　flowering　shrubs　are　then　mostly　in　bloom；　and　numberless　kinds　of　Dipterous　and　Hymenopterous　insects　appear　simultaneously　with　the　flowers。　This　season　might　be　considered　the　equivalent　of　summer　in　temperate　climates；　as　the　bursting　forth　of　the　foliage　in　February　represents　the　spring；　but　under　the　equator　there　is　not　that　simultaneous　march　in　the　annual　life　of　animals　and　plants；　which　we　see　in　high　latitudes；　some　species；　it　is　true；　are　dependent　upon　others　in　their　periodical　acts　of　life；　and　go　hand…in…hand　with　them；　but　they　are　not　all　simultaneously　and　similarly　affected　by　the　physical　changes　of　the　seasons。

I　will　now　give　an　account　of　some　of　my　favourite　collecting　places　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Santarem；　incorporating　with　the　description　a　few　of　the　more　interesting　observations　made　on　the　Natural　History　of　the　localities。　To　the　west　of　the　town　there　was　a　pleasant　path　along　the　beach　to　a　little　bay；　called　Mapiri；　about　five　miles　within　the　mouth　of　the　Tapajos。　The　road　was　practicable　only　in　the　dry　season。　The　river　at　Santarem　rises　on　the　average　about　thirty　feet；　varying　in　different　years　about　ten　feet；　so　that　in　the　four　months　from　April　to　July；　the　water　comes　up　to　the　edge　of　the　marginal　belt　of　wood　already　spoken　of。　This　Mapiri　excursion　was　most　pleasant　and　profitable　in　the　months　from　January　to　March；　before　the　rains　became　too　continuous。　The　sandy　beach　beyond　the　town　is　very　irregular；　in　some　places　forming　long　spits　on　which；　when　the　east　wind　is　blowing；　the　waves　break　in　a　line　of　foam　at　others；　receding　to　shape　out　quiet　little　bays　and　pools。

On　the　outskirts　of　the　town　a　few　scattered　huts　of　Indians　and　coloured　people　are　passed；　prettily　situated　on　the　margin　of　the　white　beach；　with　a　background　of　glorious　foliage；　the　cabin　of　the　pureblood　Indian　being　distinguished　from　the　mud　hovels　of　the　free　negroes　and　mulattoes　by　its　light　construction；　half　of　it　being　an　open　shed　where　the　dusky　tenants　are　seen　at　all　hours　of　the　day　lounging　in　their　open…meshed　grass　hammocks。　About　two　miles　on　the　road　we　come　to　a　series　of　shallow　pools；　called　the　Laguinhos；　which　are　connected　with　the　river　in　the　wet　season；　but　separated　from　it　by　a　high　bank　of　sand　topped　with　bushes　at　other　times。　There　is　a　break　here　in　the　fringe　of　wood；　and　a　glimpse　is　obtained　of　the　grassy　campo。　When　the　waters　have　risen　to　the　level　of　the　pools；　this　place　is　frequented　by　many　kinds　of　wading　birds。　Snow…white　egrets　of　two　species　stand　about　the　margins　of　the　water；　and　dusky…　striped　herons　may　be　seen　half　hidden　under　the　shade　of　the　bushes。　The　pools　are　covered　with　a　small　kind　of　waterlily；　and　surrounded　by　a　dense　thicket。　Amongst　the　birds　which　inhabit　this　spot　is　the　rosy…breasted　Troupial　（Trupialis　Gulanensis）；　a　bird　resembling　our　starling　in　size　and　habits；　and　not　unlike　it　in　colour；　with　the　exception　of　the　rich　rosy　vest。　The　water　at　this　time　of　the　year　overflows　a　large　level　tract　of　campo　bordering　the　pools；　and　the　Troupials　come　to　feed　on　the　larvae　of　insects　which　then　abound　in　the　moist　soil。

Beyond　the　Laguinhos　there　succeeds　a　tract　of　level　beach　covered　with　trees　which　form　a　beautiful　grove。　About　the　month　of　April；　when　the　water　rises　to　this　level；　the　trees　are　covered　with　blossom；　and　a　handsome　orchid；　an　Epidendron　with　large　white　flowers；　which　clothes　thickly　the　trunks；　is　profusely　in　bloom。　Several　kinds　of　kingfisher　resort　to　the　place。　Four　species　may　be　seen　within　a　small　space　the　largest　as　big　as　a　crow；　of　a　mottled…grey　hue；　and　with　an　enormous　beak；　the　smallest　not　larger　than　a　sparrow。　The　large　one　makes　its　nest　in　clay　cliffs；　three　or　four　miles　distant　from　this　place。　None　of　the　kingfishers　are　so　brilliant　in　colour　as　our　English　species。　The　blossoms　on　the　trees　attract　two　or　three　species　of　hummingbirds；　the　most　conspicuous　of　which　is　a　large　swallow…tailed　kind　（Eupetomena　macroura）；　with　a　brilliant　livery　of　emerald　green　and　steel　blue。　I　noticed　that　it　did　not　remain　so　long　poised　in　the　air　before　the　flowers　as　the　other　smaller　species；　it　perched　more　frequently；　and　sometimes　darted　after　small　insects　on　the　wing。

Emerging　from　the　grove　there　is　a　long　stretch　of　sandy　beach；　the　land　is　high　and　rocky；　and　the　belt　of　wood　which　skirts　the　river　banks　is　much　broader　than　it　is　elsewhere。　At　length；　after　rounding　a　projecting　bluff；　the　bay　at　Mapiri　is　reached。　The　river　view　is　characteristic　of　the　Tapajos；　the　shores　are　wooded；　and　on　the　opposite　side　is　a　line　of　clay　cliffs　with　hills　in　the　background　clothed　with　a　rolling　forest。　A　long　spit　of　sand　extends　into　mid…river；　beyond　which　is　an　immense　expanse　of　dark　water；　the　further　shore　of　the　Tapajos　being　barely　visible　as　a　thin　grey　line　of　trees　on　the　horizon。　The　transparency　of　air　and　water　in　the　dry　season　when　the　brisk　east　wind　is　blowing；　and　the　sharpness　of　outline　of　hills；　woods；　and　sandy　beaches；　give　a　great　charm　to　this　spot。

While　resting　in　the　shade　during　the　great　heat　of　the　early　hours　of　afternoon；　I　used　to　find　amusement　in　watching　the　proceedings　of　the　sand　wasps。　A　small　pale　green　kind　of　Bembex　（Bembex　ciliata）；　was　plentiful　near　the　bay　of　Mapiri。　When　they　are　at　work；　a　number　of　little　jets　of　sand　are　seen　shooting　over　the　surface　of　the　sloping　bank。　The　little　miners　excavate　with　their　forefeet；　which　are　strongly　built　and　furnished　with　a　fringe　of　stiff　bristles；　they　work　with　wonderful　rapidity；　and　the　sand　thrown　out　beneath　their　bodies　issues　in　continuous　streams。　They　are　solitary　wasps；　each　female　working　on　her　own　account。　After　making　a　gallery　two　or　three　inches　in　length　in　a　slanting　direction　from　the　surface；　the　owner　backs　out　and　takes　a　few　turns　round　the　orifice　apparently　to　see　whether　it　is　well　made；　but　in　reality；　I　believe；　to　take　note　of　the　locality；　that　she　may　find　it　again。　This　done；　the　busy　workwoman　flies　away　but　returns；　after　an　absence　varying　in　different　cases　from　a　few　minutes　to　an　hour　or　more；　with　a　fly　in　her　grasp；　with　which　she　re…enters　her　mine。　On　again　emerging；　the　entrance　is　carefully　closed　with　sand。　During　this　interval　she　has　laid　an　egg　on　the　body　of　the　fly　which　she　had　previously　benumbed　with　her　sting；　and　which　is　to　serve　as　food　for　the　soft；　footless　grub　soon　to　be　hatched　from　the　egg。　From　what　I　could　make　out；　the　Bembex　makes　a　fresh　excavation　for　every　egg　to　be　deposited；　at　least　in　two　or　three　of　the　galleries　which　I　opened　there　was　only　one　fly　enclosed。

I　have　said　that　the　Bembex　on　leaving　her　mine　took　note　of　the　locality；　this　seemed　to　be　the　explanation　of　the　short　delay　previous　to　her　taking　flight；　on　rising　in　the　air　also　the　insects　generally　flew　round　over　the　place　before　making　straight　off。　Another　nearly　allied　but　much　larger　species；　the　Monedula　signata；　whose　habits　I　observed　on　the　banks　of　the　Upper　Amazons；　sometimes　excavates　its　mine　solitarily　on　sand…　banks　recently　laid　bare