INDEX 



Artichoke, Topinambur (Helianthus tuberosus). From North America (Com- 



positae), 144 

 Arums (Araceae), 82, 239 

 Asparagus Beetle, Crioceris asparagi, in Java C. subpolita. Hesse's calculations 



concerning, 1 63 

 Assude, storage-tank, 129 « 



Aztec ants, 318-20 

 Azure bindweed, Thunbergia azurea grandiflora (Acanthaceae). Also Ipomoea 



caerica and I. purpurea (red). (Convolvulaceae), 97, 98 



Bactris. The fruits of these palms are edible. The Maraja is Bactris Maraja. The 

 Pupunha-palm (B. or Guilielma speciosa) is cultivated by the Amazon 

 Indians, its fruits being roasted like our chestnuts, 84 



Bacurdu, see Nightjars. 



Bagre = Catfish. The Incubating Catfish is Arius commersoni. 



Bahia, 26, 30, 31, 47 



Bahia morpho, see Morpho bahiana. 



Baixada, 71 



Ball-nested Wasps, Polybia scutellaris and micans. The wasp with the bag- 

 shaped nest is Polybia rejecta, 293-4 



Balsam plum, see Caja. 



Bamboo Palm, Palmeira bambu, Areca lutescens. The Raffia Palm, which occurs 

 in Africa and about the mouths of the Amazon, is likewise known as a 

 Bamboo Palm. — These palms have only a short stem, or even none, but 

 the leaves grow to a length of 60 feet and more ; they are the longest leaves 

 known. 135 



Bamboos, 82 



Banana (Musa sapientum and paradisiaca, Musaceae), probably from India. 

 The Dwarf Bananas, about six feet in height (M. Cavendishi) come from 

 South China. 121, 14 1-2 



Banana do brejo, see Monstera. 



Banyan, 78-9 



Barata, cockroach, Periplaneta americana, 28 



Barata do mar, Rock- or Water-louse, Ligia, related to the Wood-louse; a crus- 

 tacean, 47 



Barba do velho, see Greybeard. 



Barbeiro, see Wedgenosed Bug. 



Bark-bug, Phloea corticaria, 224, 287 



Barriguda, Chorisia ventricosa. Another species is known as Paina de seda, the 

 seeds being embedded in a silky cotton. These trees belong to the Silk- 

 Cotton trees (Bombaceae), 122 



Batata doce or Sweet Potato, Ipomoea batatas (Convolvulaceae), from Central 

 America. The Batata has to some extent replaced the culture of a similar 

 tuberous plant, which is related to the Irises, the Yam (Dioscorea triloba, 

 bulbifera and others ; Dioscoreaceae) . The Batata ingleza is our Potato, 

 Solanum tuberosum. 143 



Bat-fish (Malthidae), 47 



Batrachians, 17 



Bats, bloodsucking, see Vampires. The bats which fly over the water and catch 

 fish and shrimps belong to the genus Noctilio (leporinus). 59, 354-5 



^'Batumen," 299 



Bauhinia (Leguminosae), 81, 95—6 



375 



