TIIK CITY OF PANAMA. 417 



smooth as newly-shaven pigs, (glossy, fat, and lazy,) yet are peculiar pets: the latter and more 

 glossy the >kiii appears, the greater the admiration of the mistress. One usually udrnires con- 

 trasts with one's self; and the Panamefias are so nearly naked, I should rather have thought 

 the\ would tfivr preference to well clad curs. 



The MI. --I numerous of the leathered trihe are the hu/./.anls. Look where you will, from 

 house-top to garden-wall or public thoroughfare, there the creature may be seen scratching fleshy 

 morsels from the offal, or devouring some choice bit of a decaying carcass unmolested by the 

 passer by, because protected in his enjoyments by the laws of the land. In some cities of South 

 America, the fine for killing one of these public scavengers is twenty dollars. Though not so 

 large as his relative with us, he is a more horrid and filthy-looking wretch, whose exterior 

 brought many a one to sudden end by Yankee bullets, fines to the contrary notwithstanding. 

 Next them in number are brown-backed pelicans, oceanic vultures, that frequent the beaches 

 in very large numbers, and in great apparent delight dash beneath the breaking surf to seize 

 their prey. Curlew plovers, several varieties of snipes, and sand-birds, are also quite numerous, 

 and would be an acquisition to the tables of Panama if there were energy enough among its lazy 

 people to shoot them. Swallows and wrens also frequent the habitations of man, their plumage 

 and habits closely resembling those of our northern birds, though the song of the latter differs 

 through one half its notes. Several varieties of parrots and parroquets have been found in 

 the neighborhood, and, as usual, are great pets with the old ladies when they can be caught. 



Twice each day an abundance of good fish are taken from the bay with hook and line. Those 

 caught in the morning are considered unfit for use by dinner-hour. An edible oyster and 

 another very excellent shell-fish resembling in form the Choro (mytilus) are supplied from 

 the same source. Occasionally, moderate-sized alligators so" far forget their proper cruising- 

 ground in the Bio Grande as to be caught napping on the volcanic ledges under the batteries, 

 and in consequence are apt to be inspected in the plaza. One measuring twelve feet was killed 

 very shortly after our arrival, and brought up for the Yankees to wonder at. On the spot 

 where the boys subsequently tore it in pieces, there were patches of phosphorescent light for 

 several evenings afterwards. Sharks abound in the bay, rendering its waters dangerous to 

 bathers. Pirate-crabs may be found on every part of the beach, and often among the garden- 

 plants and shrubbery within the walls. I have sometimes thought them seeking some of the 

 smaller lizards, for whose capture their peculiar habitations and short, strong claw so well fit 

 them; but such an encounter was never witnessed. Lizards there are of all sizes from an inch 

 to more than a foot in length, and of all colors from light green and blue, through speckled 

 browns, to black. They are graceful little creatures, and many of them will sit and watch you, 

 whisking their tails from side to side, or run to holes of the wall as you approach, and instantly 

 poke out their heads again, as though inviting a game at romps. No one molests them even 

 in the houses. 



The British steamer had gone when I arrived, and it was no easy matter to pass four weeks 

 without society, and almost without books, in such a place as Panama. In anticipation of 

 passing direct through to Valparaiso, only an aneroid barometer and one thermometer, together 

 with three or four volumes, had been retained. The record of the aneroid, which had been 

 kept at sea for the purpose of testing its usefulness as a marine instrument, was continued here. 

 The observations at length will be found in Appendix C. From its indications, there is a region 

 commencing just south of San Domingo (latitude 17 N.), and terminating near latitude 1 N. 

 on the west coast of South America, where the atmospheric pressure rarely exceeded 29.85 

 inches; and in that whole distance, occupying me from August 24th to October 2d, it was only 

 once so great as 29.90 inches. A mean of the observations at Panama, made regularly at 9 A. M., 

 3 P. M., and 9 P. M., gave 29.795 inches, with a mean diurnal fall from the first to the second 

 hour of .08 inch. The mean temperature for the same hours was 81, with a mean range of only 

 2. 9. Though rain fell no more frequently than often occurs during the same season in the 

 United States, the atmosphere was so nearly saturated with moisture that clothing could only 

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