186 STEPPES AND DESERTS. 



season. The crocodiles and other amphibious animals hide 

 themselves in the mud, where they lie apparently dead, like 

 animals in a state of hybernation or plunged into winter 

 sleep by cold. (See my Relation historique, T. ii. pp. 192 

 and 626.) 



( 40 ) p. 20. ' ' The aspect of a vast inland sea." 



Nowhere are these inundations more extensive than in 

 the network of rivers formed by the Apure, the Arachuna, 

 Pajara, Arauca, and Cabuliare. Large vessels sail across 

 the country over the Steppe for 40 or 50 miles. 



( 41 ) p. 21. "To the mountain plateau of 

 Antisana" 



The great mountain plain or plateau surrounding the 

 volcano of Antisana is 2107 toises (13473 English feet), 

 above the level of the sea. The atmospheric pressure at 

 this elevation is so small that the wild cattle, when hunted 

 with dogs, bleed from the nose and mouth. 



( 42 ) p. 22."Bera and Rastro." 



I have described the capture of the Gymnoti in detail in 

 another place. (Observations de Zoologie et d' Anatomic 

 comparee, vol. i. p. 83-87 ; and Eelation historique, T. ii. 

 p. 173-190). M. Gay Lussac and I found the experiment 

 without a circuit succeed perfectly with a living Gymnotus, 

 which was still very vigorous when brought to Paris. The 

 discharge is solely dependent on the will of the animal. 



