back' on the 22d of December, and to come to the north. Myriads, very large numbers. From Gr. myrias (-ades), a ten thousand. Primeval See page 255. Intersect, cut their way through. From Lat. inter, between, and seco (sect-um), I cut. Cognates: Sect, section; insect. Intense, very great. From Lat. intendo (intens-um), I stretch. (The metaphor is taken from the stretching of a bow.) Recesses, spots deep withdrawn. From Lat. recedo (recessum), I go back. Cognates: Recede; secede, secession. Prehensile, adapted for seizing or Denizen. See page 196. 1. The largest forests in the world are those which are found in the valley of the Amazons River, in South America. This gigantic stream, with its tributaries, drains an immense district of country, equal in extent to about twelve times the size of France. All this vast tract of flat and fertile land is heated by the burning rays of a tropical sun, and is covered with the most luxuriant vegetation, through which the great river and its numerous tributaries slowly wind their way to the Atlantic Ocean. 2. The forests of the Amazons are composed of a great number of different kinds of large trees, many of which -unlike our common woodland trees-are covered with brilliantly coloured flowers. Here and there, slender and graceful palms raise their feathery heads into the air, and shew us that we are within the tropics. Beneath the shade of the great trees grow huge reeds and grasses of all kinds, mixed with myriads of tree-ferns, and bushes of different sorts. Thousands of climbing plants and cord-like creepers twine round the trunks of the trees, stretching from branch to branch, and matting the undergrowth together, till a thicket is formed through which no human being could make his way except by the use of the axe. 3. The dense primeval forest, in fact, is impenetrable to the foot of man, and the natives of these regions have no means of moving from place to place except by the numerous streams which intersect the plains. In the day-time, especially in the intense heat of the noontide, deep silence reigns over the forest, broken only by the faint humming of insects. The larger animals seek shelter in the recesses of the forest, and the birds hide themselves in clefts or under the thick foliage of the trees. At night, on the other hand, the forest is often a scene of the wildest uproar, and resounds with the howling and piping of monkeys, the shrieking of parrots, and the roaring of carnivorous animals. 4. The great forests of the Amazons are the home of innumerable animals, most of which are splendid climbers, and spend most of their time amongst the trees. The commonest creatures are the monkeys, of which there are many kinds, living in crowds in the woods, and making more noise than all the other animals put together. The curious little spider-monkeys have very slender bodies, long thin arms and legs, and long prehensile tails, by means of which these agile creatures can grasp a branch just as we use our hands, and swing themselves from branch to branch, or hang head downwards, with the greatest ease. The little squirrel-like marmosets have thick bushy tails, and can only climb about by means of their feet. The most curious of the monkeys, however, are the howlers, which raise terrific cries in the stillness of the night. 5. One of the most extraordinary animals of the South American forests is the sloth. This curious beast has long rough gray hair, and a round good-natured face, and spends its entire life amongst the trees, upon the leaves of which it feeds. It never comes down upon the ground unless forced to do so by some overpowering necessity; and then it drags itself along, slowly and painfully, for its feet are so bent that it can walk only with the greatest difficulty. Up amongst the trees, however, it is quite at home, climbing about, back downwards, suspended from the branches by means of its long crooked claws. It even sleeps in this apparently unnatural position; Sloth. and the trees are so close together that, in moving about, it can easily pass from one to the other without being compelled to alight on the ground. 6. The gloom of the impenetrable forests is enlivened by throngs of brightly-coloured parrots, which chatter and scream over the juicy fruits which form their food; while the toucans, with their monstrous bills, enjoy their meals in peace and quietness. Gorgeous butterflies flit through the air, and visit the countless flowers in search of their honeyed juices; and one has some difficulty in distinguishing these from the equally brilliant hummingbirds which dart like lightning hither and thither. 7. Nor is the ground without its denizens. The little armadillos, clad in an armour of bony plates, burrow in the soil; while the great ant-eater, with its long bushy tail, pulls down the nests of the white ants by means of its sharp crooked claws, and devours the defenceless insects by thousands. In the burning rays of the mid-day sun, countless lizards bask on the heated banks, while manycoloured snakes crawl through the herbage, or lie concealed in the branches; in the night-time, the huge jaguar, or American panther, roams at will through the tangled forest. 8. The waters swarm with fishes of strange forms and colours, and are haunted by multitudes of alligators. These terrible reptiles swim and dive actively, or they float at the surface of the pools, like so many long brown logs of wood. Enjoying the hot sun, they lie for hours without moving; but it would fare badly with any animal or naked Indian who might try to swim across a river tenanted by these voracious monsters. In an instant, the water would be alive with lashing tails and snapping jaws, and the bold swimmer would hardly escape with all his limbs, or even with life itself. EXERCISES.-1. Write a SUMMARY of sections 2 to 6 inclusive. 2. Write a short paper on The Great Forests of South America' from your own summary. 3. Explain the following sentences and phrases, and give synonyms for the single words: (1) Luxuriant vegetation. (2) Matting the undergrowth together. (3) The dense primeval forest. (4) The forest is a scene of the wildest uproar. (5) Impenetrable. (6) Nor is the ground without its denizens. (7) The waters are haunted by multitudes of alligators. (8) Voracious. 4. Parse the words in the following sentence: 'The commonest creatures are the monkeys, of which there are many kinds, living in crowds in the woods.' 5. Analyse the following sentence : That time of year thou mayst in me behold, |