86 NICARAGUA. 



The whole of them are looking for a resting place, or are 

 starting in search of their daily food. 



In the middle of a fine day, when everything is in a state 

 of repose, no sound is to be heard ; the fall of a single leaf, 

 the sudden rising of a bird, the flying or the sing of 

 insects, make you start and look around. On the contrary, 

 when the \vind is blowing with impetuosity, the cracking of 

 the trees, the fall of trees and branches, and the frightened 

 animals seeking for a place of safety, produce a terrific noise, 

 and you feel a sort of terror. 



In the tropics, there is no winter, the trees are always 

 adorned with their leaves, flowers, or seeds. Numerous trees, 

 among which the beautiful palms, the gracious fern trees, the 

 majestic bombax, cedar, mahogany, syphonia, and other large 

 trees elevating their heads above all the others, are con 

 spicuous. Creepers and climbing plants descend in all 

 directions from the tops of the trees to the soil, reascending 

 again and intermixing one with another in an inextricable con 

 fusion. Large quantities of parasitical plants, flowering orchids, 

 bromelaciae and others, are seen in all nooks and corners, 

 and cover entirely the trunks of the giants of the forest, per 

 fuming the air with their sweet aroma. On the soil, fallen 

 seeds have developed into young plants and another vegeta 

 tion invades all available spaces, struggling for the mastership 

 one against another. Large rotten trunks of trees, the 

 remains of veterans of the forest are scattered on the ground, 

 and falling to pieces, contributing with the dry leaves and the 

 humidity, to the formation of a rich and fertile soil, in which 

 ferns, begonias, small palms of the genus Chamaerops, and 

 others are growing fast and occupying what remains of 

 available space ; but some ol the most curious are the climb 

 ing palms, which stem is generally well protected with long 

 and sharp points. In search of air, by means of the hooked 

 form of their leaves, they reach the top of the highest trees, 

 above which, they expand their foliage and flowers. 



Next to the climbing palms are the great variety of 

 climbers of all sizes and shapes. Some are very thick, 

 attaining about one yard in circumference, others are slender. 

 They twist around the slender stems, they drop from the 

 branches, they grow along the trunks, they stretch between 

 the trees, forming bridges, much used by monkeys for 

 passing from one tree to another ; in fact, they seem to 

 have come into existence there, for the sole benefit of these 

 animals, as nothing can give a better idea of the aspect of 



