stroke of a hammer on the anvil, or that of the clapper of a bell; various chatterers, woodpeckers, and creepers; innumerable humming-birds, whose brilliant hues vie with the richly-tinted flowers around which they hover; &c. In the neighbourhood of the rivers, we meet with the scarlet flamingo (fig. 131), the pelican (fig. 133), spoonbill, gigantic crane, &c., whilst the rapacious birds present us with the great destroying eagle, one of the most formidable of the feathered tribe; the king vulture, and various owls, among which are the supercilious, or horned owl, and a small species, not much larger than a sparrow.

Alligators (fig. 143) occur in great numbers in some of the rivers; and serpents also abound in some parts. Among the latter, is the anaconda, of which there are three species, including the boa-constrictor (fig. 149). Frogs are innumerable in some localities, and their croaking is almost deafening. These animals, as well as toads, are of unusual size in South America: and a species of frog seen by Mr. Swainson, is described by him, as "certainly bigger than the head of an ordinary man."

The insects of Brazil are not less splendid than its birds; the butterflies and moths, are of a size and brilliancy unrivalled by any in the whole world; and six or seven hundred species are known, which are peculiar to this region. Many of the beetle tribe are remarkable for their grotesque appearance, and others no less for the splendour of their colours, The diamond-beetle is well known; but this is said to be quite eclipsed in splendour by two others of the same species, which inhabit the southern provinces. The great fire-fly is a denizen of these woods. Ants are very numerous and destructive to man; scorpions and centipedes occur, but not of large size. Spiders of enormous size inhabit this region; and Lieutenant Smyth observed in the lowland of the Marañon, a spider's web of gigantic dimensions, which measured fifty feet in length, and twenty-five in height. The threads were very strong. It, however, did not appear to be the work of an individual spider, but

to belong to a whole family, or republic of spiders, which must be singularly social in their habits, to form such an establishment.

The New Shetland Isles, though separated from America, appear to form a continuation of the mountain system of that continent, their geological formation being generally precisely similar to that of Tierra del Fuego. They are mostly mountainous, and present a most dreary appearance, being in many parts covered with snow to the water's edge, and nearly destitute of vegetation. The New Orkneys, Enderby's Land, and Sandwich Land, all appear to present a similar forbidding aspect. Trinity or Palmer's Land, and Graham's Land are little known; the latter appears to be of considerable elevation, and is supposed to consist of continuous land. Biscoe's range, which is a group of islands lying to the west of Graham's Land, includes the beautiful and imposing Adelaide Island, which consists of one elevated snow-clad peak, shooting up into the clouds, and of a lower range of mountains, remarkable for having only a thin covering of snow on their summits, though towards their base, they are buried in a field of ice and snow of dazzling brightness. Near the water's edge, a ledge of rocks occurs, riven and splintered in every direction, as if by some violent convulsion.

Owing to the great degree of cold, which, as has been before observed, prevails in the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere, these islands are almost destitute of organiz productions. The New Shetland Isles are situated in a lower parallel than Drontheim, in Norway, which it will be remembered is the northern limit of the cultivation of wheat; but, so severe is the climate of these southern lands, that the only vegetation consists of a few lichens and mosses. No living quadrupeds have been found; and a very small number of birds; the latter consisting chiefly of penguins (fig. 138), and a species of pigeon.

CHAPTER XXI.

GENERAL FEATURES OF CENTRAL AMERICA.-MEXICO.—GUATEMALA.-WEST INDIAN ISLANDS.

There, groves that bloom in endless spring

Are rustling to the radiant wing

Of birds, in various plumage bright
As rainbow-hues, or dawning light.
And from the fruit-tree spreading tall
The richly-ripened clusters fall

Oft as sea-breezes blow.-WILSON.

CENTRAL America, properly so called, consists of an extended strip of land, stretching from north-west to southeast, separating the waters of the Atlantic from those of the Pacific, and connecting the two vast peninsulas of North and South America. The natural limits of this territory, are marked, on the one hand, by the narrowest part of the isthmus of Panama, and on the other, by the isthmus of Tehuantepec. As, however, the physical features of the extensive territory of Mexico agree in many particulars with those of this portion of the New World, that region may be advantageously considered in the same division; in which we shall also place the large and important assemblage of islands, included under the general name of the West Indies.

The grand central mountain range, which in North America bears the name of the Rocky Mountains, and in South America, that of the Andes, may be traced through the whole of Mexico and Central America, but does not, in any part of these regions, attain the lofty elevation, to which it rises in those vast and extensive mountain systems. In Mexico, the central line is continued in an elevated plateau, which constitutes the highest portion of the ridge, being on an average about seven thousand feet above the level of the sea, and extending from one extremity of Mexico to the

other. This plateau is traversed, nearly at right angles, by a chain of active volcanos, some of which are of great elevation, and which extend from east to west.

Mexico, owing to its geographical position, and also to the peculiar configuration of its surface, presents some remarkable features in its natural productions. The most elevated parts of its high table land, are absolutely devoid of vegetation. This is not, however, attributable to its altitude, and consequent low temperature; its elevation not being sufficient to produce this effect, in the parallel in which it is situated; but is apparently caused by its want of moisture, which in great measure arises from the porous nature of the rocks. The surface is also covered with a saline efflorescence, which increases its unfitness for vegetation. As soon, however, as any slopes occur, a more humid climate prevails, and these districts are adorned with vegetation of extreme variety and beauty. The central portion of the plateau is traversed by numerous valleys, the wide basins of which are usually not more than one thousand feet above the level of the sea. In the more elevated parts of these valleys, the steep declivities are occupied by forests of pine, oak, and beech, whilst the basins are adorned with the graceful foliage of the palm, and other tropical plants. And thus, the traveller, passing down one of these magnificent ravines, finds himself almost suddenly transported from the midst of the productions of temperate climes, to those of the torrid zone. The assemblage of the animal productions belonging to different climates-to alpine regions, and to the tropics, to North and South America-which occurs in this region, is yet more striking. Here may be seen," says Dr. Richardson, "wolves of northern aspect, dwelling in the vicinity of monkeys; humming-birds returning periodically from the borders of the frozen zone, with the northern buntings and soft-feathered titmice, to nestle with parrots and couroucuis; our common European whistling duck, shoveller, and teal, swimming in lakes, which swarm with sirens; and wherein the northern phaleropes seek

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their food, in company with Brazilian parras and boat-bills; associations which occur in no other region of the earth."

Mexico is rich in mineral deposits; iron, copper, lead, and mercury, occur in some parts; and gold is also met with; but the most celebrated deposits are the silver mines, which are about three thousand in number. The mean annual produce of the latter, is estimated at 1,500,000 lbs.; a quantity considered equal to two-thirds of the silver annually obtained from the whole of the earth's surface.

The vegetation of Mexico includes many North American species; but its flora has, on the whole, a greater similarity to that of South America. Thus, in the valleys, we meet with the caoutchouc tree, the cow-tree, the banana, vanilla, agave, or American aloe (fig. 168), &c. The most characteristic feature, however, of the Mexican flora, is the vast abundance of plants of the cactus kind, the latter succulent plants being adapted to flourish in the more arid districts. From the agave, or American aloe, called also the maguey, the natives prepare a fermented liquor, called pulque. This plant, though growing on the most arid spots, where scarcely any