The Naturalist in Nicaragua: A Narrative of a Residence at the Gold Mines of Chontales; Journeys in the Savannahs and Forests; with Observations on Animals and Plants in Reference to the Theory of Evolution of Living Forms |
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Page 7
When a clear space in the brushwood is to be crossed , such as a road , two or
three of the females will fly across first , before the male will venture to do so , and
he is always more careful to get himself concealed amongst the foliage than his ...
When a clear space in the brushwood is to be crossed , such as a road , two or
three of the females will fly across first , before the male will venture to do so , and
he is always more careful to get himself concealed amongst the foliage than his ...
Page 19
... was always a clear space within reach to put down another , so as to be able to
hold up the threatened one out of danger . I was much more surprised with the
behaviour of a green , leaf - like locust . This insect stood immovably amongst a ...
... was always a clear space within reach to put down another , so as to be able to
hold up the threatened one out of danger . I was much more surprised with the
behaviour of a green , leaf - like locust . This insect stood immovably amongst a ...
Page 32
The clear , sparkling , dancing rapids on one side contrast with the still , dark
forest on the other , whilst the whole is relieved by the bright green grassy hills in
the background . This view is the only pleasant recollection I have carried away
of ...
The clear , sparkling , dancing rapids on one side contrast with the still , dark
forest on the other , whilst the whole is relieved by the bright green grassy hills in
the background . This view is the only pleasant recollection I have carried away
of ...
Page 44
About noon the wind failed us again , and the sun right overhead , in a clear
pitiless sky , scorched us with its rays , while our boat lay like a log upon the
water , the pitch melting in the seams with the heat . The surface of the lake was ...
About noon the wind failed us again , and the sun right overhead , in a clear
pitiless sky , scorched us with its rays , while our boat lay like a log upon the
water , the pitch melting in the seams with the heat . The surface of the lake was ...
Page 82
Should the weather clear up again , these pieces are picked up when nearly
dried , and taken inside ; should the rain , however , continue , they get sodden
down into the ground , and are left there . On the contrary , in dry and hot weather
...
Should the weather clear up again , these pieces are picked up when nearly
dried , and taken inside ; should the rain , however , continue , they get sodden
down into the ground , and are left there . On the contrary , in dry and hot weather
...
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America amongst ancient animals ants appear attacks beautiful beetles believe birds branches brought called carried Central America clear close colour common continued covered crossed dark distance excepting feet flowers followed forest four fruit gold grass green ground growing head hills hundred Indians inhabitants insects lake land latter leaves less live lodes look maize miles mineral mines mountain mules natives natural nearly nest never Nicaragua night North numerous origin passed path plains plantains plants probably quartz rain range reached resemblance rising river road rocks Santo Domingo savannahs season seen side sometimes soon species spiders stones surface taken tion told took town travelling trees tropical turned valley variety veins wasp whilst whole young
Popular passages
Page 173 - As we see those animals, whose instinct compels them to live in society and obey a chief, are most capable of improvement, so is it with the races of mankind. Whether we look at it as a cause or a consequence, the more civilized always have the most artificial governments.
Page 353 - ... at Caraccas, as well as at Calabozo, preparations were made to put the place into a state of defence against an enemy, who seemed to be advancing with heavy artillery. Mr. Palacio, crossing the rio Apura below the Orivante, near the junction of the rio Nula, was told by the inhabitants, that the "firing of cannon...
Page 316 - I had an opportunity of proving in Brazil that some birds, if not all, reject the Heliconii butterflies, which are closely resembled by butterflies of other families and by moths. I observed a pair of birds that were bringing butterflies and dragonflies to their young, and although the Heliconii swarmed in the neighborhood and are of weak flight so as to be easily caught, the birds never brought one to their nest.
Page 321 - Loc. cit. p. 321. show that he does not court concealment. He is very abundant in the damp woods, and I was convinced he was uneatable so soon as I made his acquaintance and saw the happy sense of security with which he hopped about. I took a few specimens home with...
Page 26 - ... communicated the intelligence to the others. They rushed to the rescue : some bit at the stone, and tried to move it ; others seized the prisoner by the legs, and tugged with such force that I thought the legs would be pulled off — but they persevered until they got the captive free. I next covered one up with a piece of clay, leaving only the ends of the antennae projecting. It was soon discovered by its fellows, which set to work immediately, and by biting off pieces of the clay soon liberated...
Page 29 - ... in necessity — and though no man has anything, yet they are all rich ; for what can make a man so rich as to lead a serene and cheerful life free from anxieties, neither apprehending want himself...
Page 57 - On each side of the road great trees towered up, carrying their crowns out of sight amongst a canopy of foliage, and with lianas hanging from nearly every bough, and passing from tree to tree, entangling the giants in a great network of coiling cables. Sometimes a tree appears covered with beautiful flowers which do not belong to it but to one of the lianas that twines through its branches and sends down great rope-like stems to the ground. Climbing ferns and vanilla cling to the trunks, and a thousand...
Page 59 - ... less the crimsons, purples, and yellows of Canada, where the dying foliage rivals, nay, excels, the expiring dolphin in splendour. Unknown the cold sleep of winter ; unknown the lovely awakening of vegetation at the first gentle touch of spring. A ceaseless round of ever-active life weaves the fairest scenery of the tropics into one monotonous whole, of which the component parts exhibit in detail untold variety and beauty.
Page 29 - ... necessity; and though no man has anything, yet they are all rich; for what can make a man so rich as to lead a serene and cheerful life, free from anxieties; neither apprehending want himself, nor vexed with the endless complaints of his wife? He is not afraid of the misery of his children, nor is he contriving how to raise a portion for his daughters, but is secure in this, that both he and his wife, his children and grandchildren, to as many generations as he can fancy, will all live both plentifully...
Page 221 - The leaf-catting ants attacked the young plants and defoliated them ; but I have never seen any of the trees out on the savannahs that are guarded by the Pseudomyrma touched by them, and have no doubt the acacia is protected from them by its little warriors. The thorns, when they are first developed, are soft, and filled with a sweetish, pulpy substance; so that the ant, when it makes an entrance into them, finds its new house full of food. It hollows this out, leaving only the hardened shell of...
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Naturalist in Nicaragua: A Narrative of a Residence at the Gold Mines of Chontales; Journeys in the Savannahs and Forests; with Observations on Animals and Plants in Reference to the Theory of Evolution of Living Forms |
| Author | Thomas Belt |
| Edition | 2 |
| Publisher | E. Bumpus, 1888 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 5 sept. 2007 |
| Length | 403 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |