Jan., 1889. 
‘‘THE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA 
19 
that is, lands now separated were then joined together, and to 
adjacent continents; and that what are now banks and shoals 
beneath the sea, were then peopled lowlands.” Volcanic 
energy and its effects are ably discussed in regard to Masaya, 
which, at the time of the Spanish conquest in 1522, was in 
full activity. “ The credulous Spaniards believed the fiery 
molten mass at the bottom of the crater to be liquid gold, and 
through great danger, amongst the smoke and fumes, were 
lowered down it until, with an iron chain and bucket, they 
could reach the fiery mass, when the bucket was melted from 
the chain, and the intrepid explorers were drawn up half dead 
from amongst the fumes.” The late Charles Kingsley’s 
graphic description of the great eruption of St. Vincent, in 
1812, is quoted from “ At last;” and there is a very closely- 
reasoned passage showing that Mr. Belt had convinced 
himself that Lake Masaya and similar basins in the same 
area “ have been blasted out,” i.e., formed by volcanic energy. 
To the biologist, of course by far the most interesting 
portions of the book are those which deal with organic 
phenomena (2). The bright fiery-red colouring, on a black 
velvety ground, of the polygamous male tanager (Ramphoccelus 
passerinii), make it conspicuous to birds of prey, while the 
greenish-brown sober suit of the female is protective. 
Accordingly, “when a clear space in the brushwood is to be 
crossed, such as a road, two or three of the females will fly 
across first, before the male will venture to do so, and he is 
always more careful to get himself concealed amongst the 
foliage than his mates.” Illustrations of mimicry abound. 
A curious longicorn beetle (Desmiphora fascicuiata), covered 
with long brown and black hairs, closely resembles the 
short, thick, hairy caterpillars that are common on the 
bushes. Insectivorous birds will not touch the latter, 
hence the beetle from its resemblance derives protection. 
Wasps and stinging ants have hosts of imitators amongst 
moths, beetles, and bugs. The author points out to 
those unacquainted with Mr. Bates’s admirable remarks on 
mimetic forms, that “he has to speak of one species imitating 
another, as if it were a conscious act, only on account of the 
poverty of our language. No such idea is entertained, and it 
would have been well if some new term had been adopted to 
express what is meant.” These deceptive resemblances are 
supposed by evolutionists “to have been brought about by 
varieties of one species resembling another having special 
means of protection, and preserved from their enemies in 
consequence of that unconscious imitation.” Kesemblances at 
first remote have in the course of ages become permanent. 
