150 WONDERS OF ORGANIC LIFE. 



planetary light. A single cloud appears in the 

 south, like a distant mountain rising perpendicu- 

 larly from the horizon. Gradually the increasing 

 vapours spread like mist over the sky, and now 

 the distant thunder ushers in the life-restoring 

 rain. Hardly has the surface of the earth 

 received the refreshing moisture, before the pre- 

 viously barren steppe begins to exhale sweet 

 odours, and to clothe itself With Kyllingias, the 

 many panicles of the PasjMlum, and a variety 

 of grasses. The herbaceous mimosas, with 

 renewed sensibility to the influence of light, 

 unfold their drooping, slumbering leaves, to 

 greet the rising sun ; and the early song of 

 birds, and the opening blossoms of the water- 

 plants, join to salute the morning. . The horses 

 and cattle now graze in the full enjoyment of 

 life. The tall springing grass hides the beau- 

 tifully spotted jaguar, who, lurking in safe con- 

 cealment, and measuring carefully the distance 

 of a single bound, springs, cat-like as the 

 Asiatic tiger, on his passing prey." This is, 

 indeed, a forcible picture. How oppressive to 

 life are heat and drought combined ! At this 

 season, many tropical plants shed their leaves, 

 and the reptiles bury themselves in the mud. 

 Many mammalia also seek a shelter, and sleep 

 in tranquil torpidity ; the land snails are all 

 shut up in their chambers, and take in their 

 snug recesses of retirement their quiet siesta. 

 No insect wing winnows the suffocating air. 

 The worms of the earth plunge deep into the 

 sub-soil, and man himself feels listless, languid, 



