516 



THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



dom and of ligbt; and hence also the crowns borne aloft on those high columnar 

 trunks are comparatively small. 



In the deep lowlands the forest assumes a severe and gloomy character: dense 

 crowns of foliage form lofty vaults almost impenetrable to the light of day ; no under- 

 wood thrives on the swampy ground ; no parasite puts forth its delicate blossoms 

 where the mighty trees stand in interminable confusion ; and only mushrooms sprout 

 abundantly from the humid soil. Nothing can equal the gloom of these forests during 

 the rainy season. Thick fogs obscure the damp and sultry air, and clouds of mos- 

 quitoes whirl about in the mist. The trees drip with moisture; the flowers expand 

 their petals only during the few dry hours of the day, and every animal seeks shelter 

 in the thicket. No bird, no butterfly comes forth; the snorting of the capybaras, and 

 the monotonous croaking of frogs and toads, are the only sounds that break the dull 

 silence; except when the roar of the jaguar, or the bowlings of the stentor-monkej , 

 issue like notes of distress from the depth of the melancholy woods. 



After the wet season the woods appear in their full beauty. Before the first 

 showers, the long continued drought had withered their leaves, and dried up many 

 of the more tender parasites; during its continuance the torrents of rain despoiled 

 them of all ornament; but when the clouds disperse and the animals come forth 

 from their retreats to stretch their stiflened limbs in the warm sunshine, then also 

 the vegetable world awakens to new life ; and where, a few days before, the eye 

 met only with green in every variety of shade, it now revels in the luxuriance of 

 beautiful flowers, which embalm the air with exquisite fragrance. These fairy 

 bowers are enlivened by birds of splendid plumage, particularly in the early 

 morning, when the luscious green of the high palm-fronds or the burning yellow 

 of the lofty leopoldinias, touched by the first rays of the sun, suddenly shines forth. 

 Then hundreds of gaudy parrots fly across the river ; numberless colibris dart like 

 winged gems through the air ; whole herds of cotingas flutter among the blossoms ; 

 ducks of brilliant plumage cackle on the branches of submerged trees ; on the highest 

 tree-tops the toucan yelps his loud pia-po-ko ! while, peeping from his nest, the oriole 

 endeavors to imitate the sound ; and the scarlet ibis flies in troops to the coast, while 

 the white egrette flutters along before the boat, rests, and then again rises for a new 

 career. 



In general the morning hours are loudest in the primitive forest ; for the animals 

 that dehght in daylight, though not more numerous than the nocturnal species, have 

 generally a louder voice. Their full concert, however, does not begin immediately 

 after sunrise ; for they are mostly so chilled by the colder night, that they need to be 

 warmed for some time before awakening to the complete use of their faculties. First, 

 single tones ring from the high tree-crown, and gradually thousands of voices join in 

 various modulation, — now approaching, now melting into distance. Pre-eminent in 

 loudness is the roar of the howling monkeys, though without being able fully to stifle 

 the discordant cries and chattering of the noisy parrots. But the sun rapidly ascends 

 towards the zenith, and one musician after the other grows mute and seeks the cool 

 forest shade, until finally the whole morning concert ceases to be heard. 



As the heat grows more intense, the stillness of the forest is only interrupted at in- 

 tervals by single animal voices. The deepest silence reigns at noon, when the sun 

 becomes too powerful even for the children of the torrid zone ; and many creatures, 



