Diurnal Lepidoptera. Mr. Osbert Salvin and Dr. P. L. Sclater have named for me my collection of birds; and for much entomological information I am indebted to Professor Westwood, Mr. F. Smith, and Dr. D. Sharp; whilst, in botany, Professor D. Oliver, of Kew, has kindly named for me some of the plants. Through the assistance of these eminent authorities, I trust that the scientific names scattered throughout the book may be depended upon as correct.

Arrival at Greytown—The River San Juan-Silting up of the Harbour

Crossing the Bar-Lives lost on it—Sharks-Christopher Columbus-Appearance of the Town-Trade—Healthiness of the Town and its probable cause - Comparison between Greytown, Perriambuco, and Maceio-Wild Fruits-PlantsParrots, Toucans, and Tanagers-Butterflies and Beetles-Mimetic Forms Alligators : Boy drowned at Blewfields by one—Their method of catching Wild Pigs

1

CHAPTER II.

Commence Journey up San Juan River—Palms and Wild Canes—Plan

tations The Colorado River-Proposed Improvement of the
River-Progress of the Delta-Mosquitoes—Disagreeable Night

- Fine Morning—Vegetation of the Banks-Seripiqui River-
Mot-mots-Foraging Ants: their method of Hunting-Ant-
Thrushes—They attack the Nests of other Ants—Birds' Nests,
how preserved from them-Reasoning powers in Ants—Parallel
between the Mammalia and the Hymenoptera-Utopia

11

CHAPTER III.

Journey up River continued-Wild Pigs and Jaguar-Bungos—Reach

Machuca-Castillo-Capture of Castillo by Nelson-India-rubber Trade-Rubber-men-Method of making India-rubber-Congo Monkeys–Macaws The Savallo River-Endurance of the Boatmen San Carlos—Interoceanic Canal-Advantages of the Nicaraguan Route—The Rio Frio Stories about the Wild IndiansIndian Captive Children-Expeditions up the Rio Frio-American River Steamboats .

30

CHAPTER IV.

.

PAGE

The Lake of Nicaragua—Ometepec-Becalmed on the Lake-White

Cygnets-Reach San Ubaldo-Ride across the Plains-Vegetation

of the Plains-Armadillo Savannahs—Jicara Trees-Jicara Bowls

- Origin of Gourd-shaped Pottery-Coyotes— Mule-breeding

-Reach Acoyapo—Festa-Cross High Range-Esquipula-The

Rio Mico--Supposed Statues on its Banks-Pital—Cultivation of

Maize-Its use from the earliest times in America-Separation of

the Maize-eating from the Mandioca-eating Indigenes of America

- Tortillas--Sugar-making-Enter the Forest of the Atlantic

Slope—Vegetation of the Forest-Muddy Roads--

Arrive at Santo

Domingo

CHAPTER V.

Geographical position of Santo Domingo-Physical Geography--The

Inhabitants-Mixed Races—Negroes and Indians compared-

Women-Establishment of the Chontales Gold Mining Company

My House and Garden-Fruits—Plantains and Bananas : pro-

bably not indigenous to America : propagated from Shoots : do

not generally mature their Seeds –Fig-trees-Granadillas and

Papaws—Vegetables-Dependence of Flowers on Insects for their

Fertilization-Insect Plagues - Leaf-cutting Ants : their method

of defoliating Trees : their Nests—Some Trees are not touched

by the Ants -- Foreign Trees are very subject to their attack-

Method of Destroying the Ants-Migration of the Ants from a

Nest attacked—Corrosive Sublimate causes a sort of Madness

amongst them—Indian plan of preventing their ascending young

Trees-Leaf-cutting Ants are fungus-growers and eaters—

Sagacity of the Ants

61

CHAPTER VI.

Configuration of the Ground at Santo Domingo Excavation of Valleys

-Geology of the District-Decomposition of the Rocks-Gold-

mining-Auriferous Quartz Veins- Mode of occurrence of the

Gold-Lodes richer next the surface than at lower depths-Ex-

cavation and Reduction of the Ore-Extraction of the Gold-

"Mantos”-Origin of Mineral Veins : their connection with

intrusions of Plutonic Rocks.

85

Climate of the north-eastern side of Nicaragua—Excursions around

Santo Domingo -The Artigua--Corruption of Ancient Names-

Butterflies, Spiders, and Wasps-Humming-birds, Beetles, and

Ants-Plants and Trees—Timber-Monkey attacked by Eagle

-White-faced Monkey-Anecdotes of a tame one-Curassows

and other game Birds—Trogons, Woodpeckers, Mot-mots, and

Toucans

103

CHAPTER VIII.

Description of San Antonio Valley—Great variety of animal life-

Pitcher-flowered Marcgravias-Flowers fertilized by Humming-

birds—By Insects-- Provision in some flowers to prevent insects,

not adapted for carrying the pollen, from obtaining access to the

nectaries-Stories about Wasps-Humming-birds bathing_Nest

of Myriapods—Ascent of Peña Blanca-Tapirs and Jaguars -

Summit of Peña Blanca

126