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Show 184 BANDA ORIEN'l'AL. Nov. 1833. taste displayed by the women in their dresses ; and the equality amongst all ranks. At the Rio Colorado some men who kept the humblest shops, used to dine with General Rosas. A son of a major at Bahia Blanca gained his livelihood by making paper cigars, and he wished to accompany me, as guide or servant, to Buenos Ayres, but his father objected on the score of the danger alone. Many officers in the army can neither read nor write, yet all meet in society as equals. In Entre Rios, the Sala consisted of only six representatives. One of them kept a common shop, and evidently was not degraded by the office. All this is what would be expected in a new country ; nevertheless, the absence of gentlemen by profession appears to an Englishman something strange. When speaking of these countries, the manner in which they have been brought up by their unnatural parent, Spain, should always be borne in mind. On the whole, perhaps, more credit is due for what has been done, than blame for that which may be deficient. It is impossible to doubt but that the extreme liberalism of these countries, must ultimately lead to good results. The very general toleration of foreign religions, the regard paid to the means of education, the freedom of the press, the facilities offered to all foreigners, and especially, as I am bound to add, to every one professing the humblest pretensions to science, should be recollected with gratitude, by those who have visited Spanish South America.* • I cannot conclude without adding my testimony to the spirit and accuracy of" Head's Rough Notes." I do not think the picture is at all more exaggerated than every good one must be- that is, by taking the strong examples, and neglecting those of lesser interest. 185 CHAPTER IX. Rio Plata-Flocks of butterflies-Beetles alive in the sea A 'd p · . - eronaut ssp t e·r hs - elagiC ammals-Phosphorescence of sea- p or t D es·t re-pams se~tlements-Zoology-Guanaco-Excursion to head of har- ~our-Indtan grave- Port St. Julian- Geology of Patagonia, successive t.e rra.c es, transport of pebbles-Fossil gigantic llama-Ty pes of org~m~atwn constant-Change in zoology of America-Causes of extmctwn. PATAGONIA. DECEMBER 6TH, 1833.-The Beagle sailed from the R' Plata,. never again to enter its muddy stream. Our cour~: was duected t~ Port Desire, on the coast of Patagonia. Before proceedmg any further, I will here put together a few observations made at sea. Several times when the ship has been some miles off the mouth of the Plata, and at other times when off the shores of Northern Patagonia, we have been surrounded by insects. One evening, when we were about ten miles ~rom the Bay of San Bias, vast numbers of butterflies, m bands or flocks of countless myriads, extended as far as the eye could range. Even by the aid of a glass it was not possible to see a space free from butterflies. The seamen cried out "it was snowing butterflies," and such in fact was the app~arance. More species than one were present, but. the ~am ~art belonged to a kind very similar to, but not IdentiCal With, the common English Co lias edusa. * Some moths and hymenoptera accompanied the butterflies · and a fine Calosoma flew on board. Other instances ar~ known of this beetle having been caught far out at sea· and this is. the more remarkable, as the greater number ~f the Carab1dre seldom or never take wing. The day had been • I am indebted to Mr. Waterhouse for naming these and other insects. |