58 -THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



atmosphere still >lies in deep repose. The roaring and rushing 

 descends lower and lower ; the higher branches of the trees strike 

 wildly against each other ; the forked lightning flashes through 

 the night-like darkness ; the thunder, repeated by a hundred 

 echoes, rolls through the thicket ; and trees, uprooted by the 

 fury of the storm, fall with a loud crash, bearing down every stem 

 of minor growth in their sweeping ruin. The bowlings and 

 wailings of terrified animals accompany the wild sounds of the 

 tempest. 



After the wet season the woods appear in their full beauty. 

 Before the first showers, the long-continued drought had 

 withered their leaves, and dried up many of tlie more delicate 

 parasites, and during its continuance the torrents of rain de- 

 spoiled them of all ornament; but when the clouds disperse 

 and the animals come forth from their retreats to stretch their 

 stiffened limbs in the warm sunshine, then also the vegetable 

 world aw^akens to new life ; and where, a few days before, the 

 eye met only \vith green in every variety of shade, it now revels 

 in the luxuriance of beautiful flowers, which embalm the air 

 with exquisite fragrance. 



At this time of the year the banks of the rivers of Guiana 

 winding through the primitive woods are of magical beauty. 

 Through the underwood which often overhangs wide spaces of 

 the stream, the large white blossoms of the inga shine forth, 

 along with the scarlet brushes of the magnificent combretia. 

 Elegant palms, armed with a panoply of thorns, and bearing a 

 profusion of red fruit, rise above this lovely foreground ; and 

 farther on, noble forest trees are seen festooned with creepers 

 and parasites covered with flowers. 



These fairy bowers are enlivened by birds of splendid plumage, 

 particularly in the early morning, when the luscious green of 

 the high palm-fronds or the burning yellow of the lofty leopol- 

 dinias, touched by the fir&t rays of the sun, suddenly shines 

 forth. Then hundreds of gaudy parrots fly across the river ; 

 numberless colibris dart like winged gems through the air ; 

 whole herds of cotingas flutter among the blossoms ; ducks of 

 brilliant plumage cackle on the branches of submerged trees ; 

 on the highest tree-tops the toucan yelps his loud pia-po-ko ! 

 while, peeping from his nest, the oriole endeavoui-s to imitate 

 the sound ; and the scarlet ibis flies in troops to the coast, while 



