Ch. IX.] BANKS OF THE JUIGALPA. Io9 



Swallows skimmed past in tlieir circling flights, whilst in 

 the bushes were warbling orange- an cl-black Sisitotis and 

 many another bird of beautiful feather. One class of 

 birds, and that the most characteristic of tropical 

 America, was decidedly scarce. I did not see a single 

 humming-bird by the river- side. On the savannahs they 

 are much less frequent than in the forest region. Insects 

 were not so numerous as they had been in preceding 

 years. Over sandy spots two speckled species of tiger- 

 beetles ran and flew with great swiftness. I saw one 

 rise from the ground and take an insect on the wing 

 that was flying slowly over. On one myrtle-like bush, 

 with small white flowers, there were dozens of a small 

 Longicorn new to me, which, when flying, looked like a 

 black wasp. 



It was very pleasant to sit in the cool shade, and listen 

 to, and watch, the birds. There was here no fear of 

 dangerous animals, the only annoyance being stinging 

 ants or biting sand-flies, neither of which were at this 

 place very numerous. Snakes also were scarce. I saw 

 but one, a harmless green one, that glided away, with 

 wavy folds amongst the brushwood. The natives say 

 that alligators are plentiful in the river, but that they 

 are harmless. I saw one small one, about five feet long, 

 floating with his eyes, nostrils, and the serratures of his 

 back only above water. Every one bathes in the river 

 without fear, which would not be the case if there had 

 been any one seized by them during the last fifty years ; 

 for no traditions are more persistent than tales of the 

 attacks of wild beasts ; anxious parents pass on from 

 generation to generation the stories they themselves were 

 told when children. 



