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 FormsE. Bumpus, 1888 - 403 pages |
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Page 34
... continued our journey up the river . Its banks pre- sented but little change . We saw many tall graceful palms and tree ferns , but most of the trees were dicoty- ledons . Amongst these the mahogany ( Swietonia maho- gani ) and the ...
... continued our journey up the river . Its banks pre- sented but little change . We saw many tall graceful palms and tree ferns , but most of the trees were dicoty- ledons . Amongst these the mahogany ( Swietonia maho- gani ) and the ...
Page 35
... continued to paddle all day , and as night approached redoubled their exertions , singing to the stroke of their paddles . I was astonished at their endurance . They kept on until eleven o'clock at night , when we reached San Carlos ...
... continued to paddle all day , and as night approached redoubled their exertions , singing to the stroke of their paddles . I was astonished at their endurance . They kept on until eleven o'clock at night , when we reached San Carlos ...
Page 44
... continued all the afternoon , and at dark we were off the islands of Nancital , having been all day within a few miles of the north - eastern side of the lake , the banks of which are everywhere clothed with dark gloomy - looking ...
... continued all the afternoon , and at dark we were off the islands of Nancital , having been all day within a few miles of the north - eastern side of the lake , the banks of which are everywhere clothed with dark gloomy - looking ...
Page 91
... ciently far into the hills , shafts are driven upwards from them to the surface , and other levels driven sixty feet higher than the first . This process is continued until the lode lying above the lowest level has been divided.
... ciently far into the hills , shafts are driven upwards from them to the surface , and other levels driven sixty feet higher than the first . This process is continued until the lode lying above the lowest level has been divided.
Page 125
... continued on to the savannahs towards San Thomas . The soil at this place is good , and I think that it has been long cultivated , as much of the forest appears of second growth , in which small palms and prickly shrubs abound . CHAPTER ...
... continued on to the savannahs towards San Thomas . The soil at this place is good , and I think that it has been long cultivated , as much of the forest appears of second growth , in which small palms and prickly shrubs abound . CHAPTER ...
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amongst ancient animals ants Atlantic attacks beautiful beetles birds branches 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 humming-birds Indians inhabitants insects islands Jinotega journey Juigalpa lake land larvæ leaf-cutting leaf-cutting ants leaves Libertad live lodes longicorn look maize Masaya Matagalpa Mexico miles mineral 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 tropical America valley variety vegetation Velasquez wasp whilst wings 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...