222 Review. [,.t^"ja„. 



" Peace Jungle " is especially interesting to Australians, being 

 particularly reminiscent of the great green "scrubs" of tropical 

 Queensland, with trees majestic and massive,, some strange and 

 beautiful and some with " lichen-sculptured trunks," springing 

 from the rich red soil, with the verdant roof of interlacing foliage 

 one hundred to two hundred feet overhead ; then there are liana 

 loops and tangles in mid-air ; palms and ferns below ; decorations 

 of tree orchids, white convolvuli, and even red passiflora ; lotus- 

 lily lagoons, &c. ; and tenanted with creatures in keeping : rare 

 and glorious birds, curious mammals, huge snakes, tree-frogs with 

 " vacuum-cupped toes," ants — stinging ants that attack with 

 " both ends of their anatomy " ; singing cicadas and alligators 

 that " roar" ; beautiful butterflies, &c. ; and there are mentioned 

 " tomatoes no larger than cherries," Bougamvillea blooms, fragrant 

 frangipani, cocoanut palms, and similar introductions, as also 

 seen in northern Australia. 



There are, suggestive of the wet season, clouds that " bank up 

 about mid-day, and showers descend with true tropical violence," 

 and a consequent clammy climate that one gets used to. Mr. 

 Beebe not only mentions all these, but more, and takes the reader 

 with him in his outings, whether it be by night in the jungle, full 

 of eerie sounds, or by day along the trail (track) like a tunnel cut 

 through a wilderness of wood. The author has caught the spirit 

 of the scrub, with its peculiar scenes, sounds, and scents, which 

 he so graphically describes. Read the first chapter of " Jungle 

 Peace," and you irresistibly read right on to the end, and fancy 

 you have indeed visited the great " highbush " of Guiana. Hear 

 about Humming-Birds when four cashew trees became inflorescent 

 in a blaze of cerise : — 



" The next few days made the trees ever memorable ; they were 

 the Mecca of all the Humming-Birds in the jungle. In early morning 

 the air for many yards resounded with a dull droning as of a swarming 

 of giant bees. Standing or sitting under the tree, we could detect 

 the units of this host, and then the individuals forced themselves 

 on our notice. Back and forth the hummers swooped and swung, 

 now poising in front of a mass of blossom and probing deeply among 

 the stamens, now dashing off at a tangent, squeaking or chattering 

 their loudest. The magnitude of the total sound made by these 

 feathered atoms was astounding ; piercing squeaks, shrill insect-like 

 tones, and now and then a real song, diminutive trills and warbles 

 as if from a flock of song-birds a long distance away. Combats and 

 encounters were frequent — some mere sparring bouts, while, when 

 two would go at it in earnest, their humming and squeaks and throb 

 of wings were audible above the general noise. . . Day after day, 

 as we watched this kaleidoscope of vegetable and avian hues, we 

 came to know more intimately the units which formed the mass. 

 There were at least fifteen species, and all had peculiarities of flight 

 and plumage so marked that they soon became recognizable at sight." 

 " Another day," says Mr. Beebe, " I observed closely for an hour, 

 and counted one hundred and forty-six Humming-Birds coming to 

 the tree. During the day at least one thousand must visit it." 



