440 EXPLANATORY INDEX. 



By their solid-looking tops, composed of massive dark green 

 leaves, and their great height, they attract attention and 

 excite admiration ; and when portions of their tops are 

 sprouting new leaves, which are of a light liver-colour at first, 

 tm-ning red, and then green, a forest of them presents many 

 varied tints. Each branch throws out shoots and gets new 

 leaves at all times of the year, independent of other portions 

 of the same tree." 



The seeds of the Mora are rather pink inside, and used by 

 the natives as food, being boiled, grated, and then mixed with 

 cassava meal, giving it a brown colour, but a pleasant and 

 sweetish taste. Three varieties of this tree are recognised, 

 namely, the Red Mora, White Mora, and Mora Bucquia. The 

 timber is excellent for ship-building, and is one of the eight 

 first class woods at Lloyd's. 



Mosquito (Gtdex pipiens). — Several species of Gnats are 

 called by the name of Mosquito, which signifies a little fly. 

 They are found all over the world, and infest hot and cold 

 countries equally, though their bite seems to be fiercer in 

 the former than in the latter. 



Even in England the Mosquito can be more than unpleasant. 

 I have had my right hand laid up for a long time by the bite 

 of a single Mosquito just at the base of the thumb. The 

 insect settled on my hand in broad daylight, and I killed it 

 as soon as I felt the prick of its beak ; but the mischief was 

 done, and I had to carry my arm in a sling and have the 

 hand covered with ice for several days. As to the hand, it 

 looked more like a discoloured boxing-glove than a hand. 



It is only the female Mosquito which bites, the male being 

 perfectly harmless. 



There is a lai-ger and longer legged species of Mosquito in 

 Guiana. Its scientific name is Culex pvMcularis, and it is 

 popularly known as Gaily- nipper. 



Musk Duck (Cairina moschata). — Popularly, but wrongly 

 called the Muscovy Duck. 



