404 EXPLANATORY INDEX. 



"When at last they did surrender, they were allowed to 

 leave their " sloop " with all the honours of war, and to 

 row themselves in their own boats to the French ships. 



Dolphin. — The creature which Waterton here describes is 

 not the true dolphin, which is one of the mammalia, and not a 

 fish; but is the Coryphene {Coryphenc hippuris), a splendid 

 fish, which sailors will insist on calling by the name of dolphin. 

 The weapon which is thrown at, or rather dropped upon the 

 fish is called by the name of "grains," and much resembles 

 Neptune's trident, except that it has five points instead of 

 three. The colours of the dying Coryphene are singularly 

 beautiful ; but it is evident that the thick, tough, blubber- 

 lined hide of the true dolphin could undergo no change. 



DucALAEALi. — One of the many useful species of West 

 Indian Laurus, the value of which is not sufiiciently recog- 

 nised in this country. The wood is very hard, close-grained, 

 heavy, durable, and deep-red in colour. Only the heart-wood 

 is used. As it is spotted with blackish-brown, like the 

 jaguar's skin, it is often called Tiger-wood. The tree is rare, 

 and is mostly found near the Essequibo. It grows chiefly in 

 clay and sandy soils, and reaches about one hundred and 

 twenty feet in height. The heart-wood, however, is seldom 

 more than two feet in diameter. 



DuEAQUAUEA {Odonfophorus Guianiensis) . — This bird, like 

 the English partridge, builds a nest on the ground, but is 

 a better architect. The nest is made of leaves and twigs, 

 and is placed under the shelter of a bush. It is roofed, and 

 has a small entrance in front. The eggs are eight or nine 

 in number, white in colour, and are about as large as those 

 of the bantam. 



E. 



Eagle, White Headed (ffaliaetus leucocephahis.) 



Ebony Teeb. — There are sevei-al trees which furnish the 



well-known ebony of commerce, but the best kind is obtained 



from the heart-wood of Diospyros ebenum. 



