no 
WONDERS OF THE TROPICAL FORESTS, 
gaudy parrots lly across the river ; numberless colibris 
dart like winired ^^ems through the air; whole herds of 
cotingas flutter among tho blossoms; ducks of brilliant 
plnniage cackle on the branches of subnierged trees; on 
the highest tree-tops the toucan yelps Lis loud pia-po-ko; 
while, peeping from hia nest, the oriole endeavours to 
imitate the sonnd ; 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. 
Yet pick out even the loveliest of these privileged spots 
where the most gorgeous flowers of the tropics expand 
their glowing petals, and for every scene of this kind we 
may find another at home of equal beauty and with an 
equal amount of brilliant colour. 
"Look at a field of buttercups and daisies," says Mr. 
Wallace, a vejy competent judge, a hillside covered with 
gorse and broom, a mountain rich with purple heather, or 
a forest glade azure with a carpet of wild hyacinths, and 
they will bear a comparison with any scene the tropics 
can produce. I have never seen anything more glorious 
than an old crab-treo in full blossom, and the hojrae-chest- 
nut, lilac, and laburnum will vie with the choicest tropical 
trees and shrubs. In the tropical waters are no more beauti- 
ful plants than our white and yellow water lilies, our irises 
and flowering rush, for I cannot consider the flower of the 
Victoria Eegia more beautiful than that of the Nyniphss 
alba, thougii it may bo larger, nor is it so abundant an 
ornament of the tropical waters as the latter is of ours." 
Let us, therefore, unseduced by the higlily coloured 
statements of travellers, learn to he contented with tho 
beauties which Nature has lavished on our woods and 
fields, nor deem that England — 
" "Where iawns extetitl tbat ecam Arcadian yii-ide, 
And brighter utreatna than famed Hydai«pe8 g]i<io — 
lias received but a stepmotherly share in the distribution 
of her gifts. 
