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Show 1896.] EXPEDITION ON THE LOWER AMAZON. 779 was found to be very common in holes in the sandy ground. A number of these nests were dug up bodily and brought home in biscuit-boxes by Mr. Pickard Cambridge, and when duly mounted it is hoped that they will prove interesting exhibits in the Museum galleries. Scorpions were by no means common, although by dint of much searching Mr. Pickard Cambridge managed to secure specimens of several species. A number of the somewhat Crab-like Phrynidae (Pedipalpi) were obtained, and in the campo at Santarem I was fortunate enough to dislodge a whole family of Tarantula santarensis, Pocock, both young and adults, from an ant-hillock. On thrusting a stick down the holes in the nest the ants swarmed out in large numbers, accompanied by these strange guests, among which was a large yellow Cockroach (Blabera sp.), more usually met with in houses. Centipedes were neither very large nor particularly common, but a rich harvest of Millipedes was secured, and Mr. Pickard Cambridge also obtained several specimens of Perlpatus. FRESHWATER SPONGES.-In the branches of bushes and low trees lining the western shore of the Rio Negro below Manaos two spscies of freshwater Sponges (Tulella reticulata, Bowerb., and Parmida batesil, Bowerb.) were very common, forming spiny masses resembling suspended Hedgehogs. At the time of our visit the water had scarcely begun to rise, and these Sponges were consequently hanging high and dry from five to fifteen feet above the surface. In the case of Formula batesil the sponge network was full of blackish seed-like gemmules. Since our return attempts have been made to induce some of these to develop by immersion in water at various temperatures, but as yet unfortunately without success. I cannot conclude without a few wTords of grateful thanks: in the first place to Mr. Alexander Siemens, whose never-failing kindness to my colleague and myself while on board his ship will always be a pleasant memory to both of us, and who, in the midst of the numberless cares and anxieties of an important commercial undertaking, did everything in his power to make our part of the expedition a success; in the second place to Sir William Flower for selecting me to represent the Museum ; and, lastly, to the Trustees of the British Museum for granting me the necessary leave of absence, which enabled me, if only for a brief space, to cease from being what Mr. Wallace has called a " laboratory naturalist," and to get a glimpse of the appearance and habits of birds, and beasts, and insects while they are yet living creatures and before they become museum specimens. |
