94 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



indolent and thriftless, the mixed races much more so than the native 

 Indians. Idleness is the curse of Central America, and the people are 

 content to live in squalid poverty rather than work. Dio Filiberto 

 was a thrifty man, and told the traveler that he was building a new 

 residence, and showed him outside his hut four old posts, used for 

 tying cows to, which had evidently been in the ground many years. 

 "There," said he, " are the corner-posts, and I shall roof it with tiles." 

 Long, no doubt, will he lounge at evening, when his wife and children 

 are milking the cows, and feel proud, as he views the four old posts, 

 that he is building a new house. 



The habitations of the Indians, mere shelters as they are, are gen- 

 erally quite cleanly ; and this class of the population is invariably fond 

 of flowers. On all important occasions, beautiful and fragrant flowers 

 are used for decoration, a trait of the old Indians which survives with 

 their unfortunate descendants. 



Mr. Belt's descriptions of natural scenery are vivid and impressive. 

 The night-world he describes as being very difierent from that of the 

 day. Things that blink and hide from the light are all awake and 

 astir when the sun goes down. Great spiders and scorpions prowl 

 about, or take up advantageous 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 antennae, watching for 

 their numerous foes, or scurry away from danger, as fast as their 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 struggle. Centipedes, wood-lice, and all kinds of creepin.g 

 things, come out of cracks and crevices ; the pools are alive with water- 

 beetles, which have been hiding in the ooze all day. 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. All the day-world is at rest and 

 asleep. The night speeds on ; the dawn is saluted by the song of 

 birds, and the creatures of night hurry to their dens and hiding-places. 

 As a traveler, naturalist, and observer, Mr. Belt has done excellent 

 service, and the reading world is his debtor. 



A GIGANTIC KELIC. 



By H. BUTTERWOETH. 



THE rarest collections of scientific relics are often the most unvis- 

 ited, and it is a somewhat singular fact, that the choicest and 

 most instructive curiosities in many of our larger cities are not to be 

 found in the popular museums. Thousands of people living in the city 

 of Boston, who are familiar with the stufied animals and astonishing 



