Ch. VIII.] CATTLE PASTURE. 141 



of about three inches, which stiffens on exposure to the 

 air to the consistency of a spider's web, but stronger. 

 With this it can envelope and capture its prey, just as a 

 fowler throws his net over a bird. The order of Myriapoda 

 is placed by systematists at the bottom of the class of 

 insects ; the sucking Myriapods are amongst the lowest 

 forms of the order, and it is singular to find one of these 

 lowly organised species furnished with an apparatus of 

 such utility, and the numberless higher forms without 

 any trace of it. Some of the other centipedes have two 

 phosphorescent spots in the head, which shine brightly 

 at night, casting a greenish light for a little distance in 

 front of them. I do not know the use of these lights, 

 but think that they may serve to dazzle and allure the 

 insects on which they prey. We planted two kinds of 

 grasses, both of which have been introduced into Nica- 

 ragua within the last twenty years. They are called 

 Para and Guinea grasses, I believe, after .the places from 

 which they were first brought. The former is a strong 

 succulent grass, rooting at the joints ; the latter grows in 

 tufts, rising to a height of four to five feet. Both are 

 greatly liked by cattle and mules ; large bundles were 

 cut every day for the latter whilst they were at work 

 on the tramway, and they kept in good condition on it 

 without other food. The natural, indigenous grass 

 that springs up in clearings in the neighbouring forest is 

 a creeping species, and is rather abundant about Santo 

 Domingo. It has a bitter taste, and cattle do not thrive 

 on it, but rapidly fall away in condition if confined to it. 

 They do better when allowed to roam about the outskirts 



V 



of the forest amongst the brushwood, as they browse on 

 the leaves of many of the bushes. This grass is not 



