GO THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



complete use of their faculties. First, single tones ring from 

 the higher tree-crowns, and gradually thousands of voices join 

 in various modulation — now approaching, now melting into 

 distance. Pre-eminent in loudness is the roar of the howling 

 monkeys, though without being able fully to stifle the dis- 

 cordant cries and chattering of the noisy parrots. But the sun 

 rapidly ascends towards the zenith, and one musician after the 

 other grows mute and seeks the cool forest shade, until finally 

 the whole morning concert ceases. Where the rays of 

 light break through the foliage and play upon the under- 

 wood, or on the damp ground, gaudy butterflies flutter about, 

 beetles of metallic brilliancy warm themselves, and richly-robed 

 or dark-vested snakes creep forth ; for these indolent creatures 

 are also fond of basking in the sun. 



As the heat grows more intense, the stillness of the forest is 

 only interrupted at intervals by single animal voices. Some- 

 times it is the note of the ivory-billed woodpecker, resounding 



like the distant axe of the forester, 

 or the wail of the sloth breaking 

 forth from the dense thicket. Some- 

 times human voices seem to issue 

 from the depth of the forest, and the 

 astonished huntsman fancies himself 

 close to his comrades of the chase, or 

 IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER. {j^ thc morc daugcrous neighbourhood 

 of a wild tribe of Indians. With deep attention he listens to 

 the sounds, until he discovers them to be the melancholy cry 

 of the wood-pigeon. 



The deepest silence reigns at noon, when the sun becomes 

 too powerful even for the children of the torrid zone ; and 

 many creatures, particularly the birds, sink into a profound 

 sleep. Then all the warm-blooded animals seek the shade, 

 and only the cold reptiles — alligators, lizards, salamanders — 

 stretch themselves upon the glowing rocks in the bed of 

 the forest streams, or on sunny slopes, and, with raised head 

 and distended jaws, seem to inhale with delight the sultry 

 air. 



As the evening approaches, the noise of the morning begins 

 to re-awaken. With loud cries the parrots return from their 

 distant feeding-grounds to the trees on which they are 



