SUNRISE IN THE OUEAL. 19 



played to our enchanted gaze zones of fertility, embracing 

 almost every species of tree and flower that flourishes 

 between the Tierra Caliente and the regions of perpetual 

 snow. It certainly was a view of almost unequalled 

 magnificence. Riding amongst apple and peach-trees that 

 might have belonged to an Ejiglish orchard, and on 

 whose branches we almost expected to see the blackbird 

 and the chaffinch; while a few hundred yards below, 

 parrots and macaws, monkeys and mocking-birds, were 

 sporting among the palms and tree-ferns, and, in flights 

 of two or three hundred yards, chasing each other from 

 the climate of the torrid to that of the temperate zone, 

 was not the least striking part of the scena" * 



I cannot avoid quoting from Mr Atkinson a picture of 

 day-break, as seen across the plains of Siberia from one 

 of the peaks of the Oural; though its details scarcely 

 bring it within the limits of natural history proper : — 



" Day was rapidly dawning over these boundless 

 forests of Siberia. Long lines of pale yellow clouds 

 extended over the horizon ; these became more luminous 

 every few minutes, until at length they were like waves 

 of golden light rolling and breaking, on some celestial 

 shore. I roused up my fellow-traveller that he might 

 partake with me in my admiration of the scene, and a 

 most splendid one it was. The sun was rising behind 

 some very distant hills, and tipping all the mountain- 

 tops with his glorious rays : even the dark pines assumed 

 * SuUivan's Eamblet in North and South America, p. 395. 



