174 THE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA. [Ch. IX. 



are all awake and astir when the sun goes down. Great 

 spiders and scorpions prowl about, or take up advan- 

 tageous positions where they expect their prey to pass. 

 Cockroaches of all sizes, from that of one's finger to that 

 of one's finger-nail, stand with long quivering antenna, 

 pictures of alert outlook, watching for their numerous 

 foes, or scurry away as fast as their long legs can 

 carry them ; but if they come within reach of the great 

 spider they are pounced upon in an instant, and with 

 one convulsive kick give up the hopeless struggle. 

 Centipedes, wood-lice, and all kinds of creeping things 

 come out of cracks and crevices ; even the pools are 

 alive with water-beetles that have been hiding in the 

 ooze all day, excepting when they came up with a dash 

 to the surface for a bubble of fresh air. Owls and night- 

 jars make strange unearthly cries. The timid deer 

 comes out of its close covert to feed on the grassy 

 clearings. Jaguars, ocelots, and opossums slink about in 

 the gloom. The skunk goes leisurely along, holding up 

 his white tail as a danger-flag for none to come within 

 range of his nauseous artillery. Bats and large moths 

 flitter around, whilst all the day- world is at rest and 

 asleep, The night speeds on ; the stars that rose in the 

 east are sinking behind the western hills ; a faint tinge 

 of dawn lights the eastern sky ; loud and shrill rings out 

 the awakening shout of chanticleer ; the grey dawn 

 comes on apace ; a hundred birds salute the cheerful 

 morn, and the night- world hurries to its gloomy dens and 

 hiding-places, like the sprites and fairy elves of our 

 nursery days. It was very dark when I started to 

 return, excepting that flashes of lightning now and then 

 illumined the path ; but I left my mule to herself, and 



