Describes new insect cabinet under construction, which contains 28 drawers, stands 3 feet high. Describes recent list of insects, highlighting "latest good captures" among other observations.
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Describes new insect cabinet under construction, which contains 28 drawers, stands 3 feet high. Describes recent list of insects, highlighting "latest good captures" among other observations.
Lack of response from Bates to insects and letter sent two months earlier; current scarcity of insects near Neath; arrival of Lepidoptera from friend in Georgia, USA, including sketch of Bombyx [a moth]; death of collected Lepidoptera larvae.
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Visits London and Paris; describes Parisian architecture, museums, galleries and boulevards; the layout and operation of the Jardin des Plantes including sketches of mineral cabinets and cases in its museum; studied insects at the British Museum to identify his collection of American Coleoptera; desires to study one family thoroughly with regard to the theory of the origin of species; Ray Society; Oken's Elements of Physiophilosophy and variety, distribution and arrangement of species.
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Responding to ARW for Royal Institution of South Wales, notes that “we have not a single member who knows anything about insects.” Will add ARW’s notes about local insects and glad his “valuable collection will remain at Neath.”
ARW will leave London for Liverpool, then will set sail for Para, northern Brazil. Seeks official letter from Hooker’s Kew museum authorizing him and Bates to collect specimens for them.
Thanks Hooker for letter of recommendation, which has helped them obtain passports. Will try to collect “interesting specimens for the Kew museum.”
Describes voyage from Liverpool to Pará [Belém] which was achieved in 31 days (26 April - 28 May); detailed description of City, including its public spaces and buildings. Rented a house "nearer the woods"; abundance of oranges and bananas and low cost of beef; striking racial mix in the City of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians; enjoys climate, has been collecting insects and comments on variety; collected 400 "distinct kinds"; hopes to collect plants when he gets his own house; will send word when a parcel is expected.
ARW sending dried palm plants; describes Paxiuba palm roots; trees with buttresses to trunks; next week will explore River Tocantins. Describes “milk tree” (“Masseranduba”) whose juice is good substitute for cream, timber strong, fruit delicious, milk makes strong glue. Climate delightful. Is spending most time collecting insects.
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ARW reports to friends his observations of Brazil after nine months exploring. At first disappointed, expected profusion of monkeys, hummingbirds, and parrots everywhere. “Not for several days...saw a single monkey or bird,” but soon learned “how and where to look.” Country is “surpassingly beautiful,” caught 500 different kinds of butterflies. Virgin forest “sublime and magnificent” with astonishing vegetation where “lurk the Onca [jaguar] & the Boa constrictor...and the Bell bird tolls his peal.” Describes streams and rivers; Climate “wonderfully uniform;” 30 different kinds of palm trees; large variety of fruits. Unalterably opposed to slavery. Even where he observed them treated well, notes they can be sold “like horses or dogs.” Country is booming and prosperous in both agriculture and commerce.
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On receiving ARW’s letters, has decided to join him at Para, Brazil; departing from Liverpool in a few weeks. Glad Fanny’s things have reached her in Georgia. “We are doomed to be a scattered family...let us meet it bravely [and] hope that all its members may meet yet again.”
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“We now have now several hundred [plant] specimens dried and drying”; sowed seeds of palms and fruit trees; have flowers including orchids. In September hope to send my collections to England and then go upriver, will explore Montalegre [sic] and north shores of Amazon. Ferns abundant here, especially Hepaticae. Enclose a note for Mr. Smith about his plants from Kew. Bringing assistant from London was a mistake, as he is drained of energy in this hot climate; cannot keep up with blacks, who are also “expert at climbing trees” with a rope and work for half the pay. Has seen ARW, who has “quarreled [sic] & separated long ago from Bates, who is now at mouth of the Tocantins. ARW has gone to Monte Alegre.
No summary available.