The Naturalist in NicaraguaCosimo, Inc., 1. jaan 2005 - 448 pages Sometimes.we would fall in with a troop of the white-faced cebus monkey, rapidly running away, throwing themselves from tree to tree. This monkey feeds also partly on fruit, but is incessantly on the look-out for insects, examining the crevices in trees and withered leaves, seizing the largest beetles and munching them up with great relish.-from Chapter VIII This masterpiece of scientific reportage and travel storytelling, first published in 1874, is a captivating narrative of the journeys of mining engineer Thomas Belt through the tropical rivers, valleys, forests, and lakes of Nicaragua. Replete with vivid descriptions of the animals and plants he encountered and full of ruminations on the geology of the region that were dismissed as fanciful at the time but have since been vindicated as true, this is "the best of all natural history journals which have ever been published," according to no less an authority than Charles Darwin.English engineer THOMAS BELT (1832-1878) traveled the world working mines from Australia to Colorado and producing numerous papers on topics ranging from geology to paleontology. The Naturalist in Nicaragua is considered his greatest work. |
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Page 2
... branch called the Colorado river , and lower down parts with more of its waters by side channels . Twenty years ago the main body of water ran past Greytown ; there was then a magnificent port , and large ships sailed up to the town ...
... branch called the Colorado river , and lower down parts with more of its waters by side channels . Twenty years ago the main body of water ran past Greytown ; there was then a magnificent port , and large ships sailed up to the town ...
Page 6
... branches , turning their long , highly - coloured beaks from side to side with an old - fashioned look , and beauti- ful tanagers ( Ramphocælus passerinii ) frequent the out- skirts of the forest , all velvety black , excepting a large ...
... branches , turning their long , highly - coloured beaks from side to side with an old - fashioned look , and beauti- ful tanagers ( Ramphocælus passerinii ) frequent the out- skirts of the forest , all velvety black , excepting a large ...
Page 7
... branches and logs , but this one clung exposed amongst the leaves , its antennæ concealed against its body , and it resemblance to a caterpillar so great , that I was at first deceived by it . It is well known that insectivorous birds ...
... branches and logs , but this one clung exposed amongst the leaves , its antennæ concealed against its body , and it resemblance to a caterpillar so great , that I was at first deceived by it . It is well known that insectivorous birds ...
Page 9
... branch forms a favourite resort for alligators . At the far end of a sand - spit , near where some low trees grew , I saw several dark objects lying close to the water on the shelving banks . They were alligators basking in the sun . As ...
... branch forms a favourite resort for alligators . At the far end of a sand - spit , near where some low trees grew , I saw several dark objects lying close to the water on the shelving banks . They were alligators basking in the sun . As ...
Page 13
... branch , which carries off the greater part of the waters of the San Juan to the sea . This is about twenty miles above Greytown , but only eighteen by the Colorado to the sea , and is near the head of the delta , as I have already ...
... branch , which carries off the greater part of the waters of the San Juan to the sea . This is about twenty miles above Greytown , but only eighteen by the Colorado to the sea , and is near the head of the delta , as I have already ...
Contents
11 | |
CHAPTER III | 30 |
CHAPTER IV | 43 |
CHAPTER V | 61 |
CHAPTER VI | 85 |
CHAPTER VII | 103 |
CHAPTER VIII | 126 |
CHAPTER IX | 150 |
CHAPTER XIII | 231 |
CHAPTER XIV | 247 |
CHAPTER XV | 275 |
CHAPTER XVI | 292 |
CHAPTER XVII | 308 |
CHAPTER XVIII | 327 |
Iguanas and lizards | 338 |
CHAPTER XX | 358 |
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Common terms and phrases
amongst ancient animals ants Atlantic attacks beautiful beetles birds branches brushwood bushes butterflies carried cattle Central America Chontales colour continued couvade covered crossed dark Depilto dogs Ecitons feet flowers forest fresh-water fruit glacial period gold grass green Greytown ground hills Indians inhabitants insects islands Jinotega journey Juigalpa lake land larvæ leaf-cutting ants leaves Libertad live lodes longicorn look maize Masaya Matagalpa Mestizos Mexico miles mines mountain mules Nahuatls natives nearly nest Nicaragua night numerous o'clock Ocotal passed plains plants prey probably quartz quartz veins rain range reached resemblance Rio Frio river road rocks rocky San Ubaldo Santo Domingo savannahs seen side slope soon Spaniards species spiders steep stones surface Teustepe tion told Totagalpa town trachyte travelling trees trogons tropical America valley variety vegetation Velasquez wasp whilst wings yellow young