The Western World

About this eBook

Author

Kingston, William Henry Giles, 1814-1880

Title

The Western World Picturesque Sketches of Nature and Natural History in North and South America

Credits

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

Language

English

LoC Class

QH: Science: Natural history

Subject

Natural history -- North America

Category

Text

eBook-No.

24715

Project Gutenberg

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24715

Release Date

February 28, 2008

Copyright

Public domain in the USA.

Contents

1. 1.Untitled
2. 2."The Western World" — Preface. — Part 1—Chapter I. — North America. — Introductory.—Physical Features of North America. — Northern Region. — Mountains. — Great Rivers. — Lakes. — Aboriginal Inhabitants—The Red Men of the Wilds. — Indian Wigwams. — Appearance of the Indians. — Wood Indians. — The Prairie Indians. — Religious Belief. — American Antiquities. — Part 1—Chapter II. — North America considered as divided into Four Zones, with the various Objects of Interest found in each. — The First Zone. — The Second Zone. — The Fertile Belt of Rupert’s Land. — Animal Life on the Fertile Belt. — The Third Zone—The Dismal Swamp in the United States. — Fossil Footmarks of Birds. — The Big-Bone Lick. — The Fourth Zone. — Part 1—Chapter III. — The Prairies, Plains of the West, and Passes of the Rocky Mountains. — The Prairies. — The Barren Plains in the Far West. — The Rocky Mountains. — Parks. — The Sage Cock. — Winter Scene among the Rocky Mountains. — The Horned Frog. — Fur-Trappers of the Far West. — Oil Springs. — Mammoth Trees and Caverns of Calaveras. — Part 1—Chapter IV. — General Survey of the Zoology of North America. — Part 1—Chapter V. — Description of Various Animals—Ruminants. — The Moose, or Elk. — Part 1—Chapter VI. — Rodents. — The Beaver. — The Musk-Rat, or Musquash. — Prairie-Dogs. — The Porcupine. — Part 1—Chapter VII. — Carnivora. — The Black Bear. — The Grizzly Bear. — Wolves. — Lynxes. — The Wolverene, or Glutton. — The Raccoon. — The Agouaha, or Crab-Eating Raccoon. — The Ermine. — The Pine-Marten. — The Otter. — The Skunk. — The Pekan, or Wood-Shock. — The Mink. — Marsupials, or Pouched Animals:—The Virginian or Common Opossum. — Part 1—Chapter VIII. — The Feathered Tribes of North America. — The Bald or White-Headed Eagle. — The Wild Turkey. — The Ocellated Turkey. — The Canvas-Back Duck. — The Summer Duck. — The Pinnated Grouse, or Prairie Hen. — The Ruffed Grouse, or American Pheasant. — Passenger-Pigeons. — Humming-Birds. — The Cow-Bird. — The Blue-Bird. — The Snow-Bird. — The Carolina Parrot. — Part 1—Chapter IX. — Reptiles. — Tortoises:—The Lettered Terrapin. — The Chicken Tortoise. — The Salt-Water Terrapin. — The Box Tortoise. — The Mud Tortoise. — The Alligator Terrapin. — The Snapping Turtle. — Lizards:—The Six-Lined Taraguina. — The Glass Snake. — The Anolis. — The Crowned Tapayaxin. — Snakes:—The Rattlesnake. — The Banded and Military Rattlesnakes. — The Corn Snake. — The Thunder Snake. — The Chicken Snake. — The Milk or House Snake. — The Black Snake. — The Coach-Whip Snake. — Frogs:—The Bull Frog. — The Solitary Frog. — The Savannah Cricket Frog. — The Changeable Tree Frog. — The Spotted Eft. — The Menopoma. — The Congo Snake. — The Necturus. — The Siren, or Mud Eel. — Grasshoppers, or Locusts. — Part 2—Chapter I. — Mexico and Central America. — Mexico. — Birds of Mexico:—The Scarlet Tanager. — The Anis, or Savannah Blackbird. — Massina’s Trogon—The Mexican Trogon. — The Resplendent Trogon. — Reptiles:—The Rhinophryne. — The Axolotl. — Part 2—Chapter II. — Central America. — Honduras and the Mosquito Country. — Fauna. — The Mahogany-Tree. — Humming-Birds:—The Slender Shear-Tail. — The Rufus Flame-Bearer. — Princess Helena’s Coquette. — The Sparkling-Tail Humming-Bird. — Locusts. — Part 2—Chapter III. — Ruins of Central America. — Stone Quarries. — Palenque. — Ruins of Quiché. — Uxmal. — Other Ruins. — Part 3—Chapter I. — South America. — Scenes of Ancient Days. — Part 3—Chapter II. — A General View of South America. — Part 3—Chapter III. — Valley of the Amazon. — Scenes on the Amazon. — The Rainy Season. — Storms. — The Pororocca. — Part 3—Chapter IV. — Character of Vegetation on the Banks. — The Gapo. — Trip up an Igarape into the Interior. — The Campos. — Geology of the Amazonian Valley. — A Day and Night on the Amazon, with their Sights and Sounds. — Part 3—Chapter V. — The Cordilleras. — Part 3—Chapter VI. — Southern and Western Shores of the Continent. — Part 3—Chapter VII. — The Indians of the Cordilleras. — The Native Indians. — The Puna. — Part 3—Chapter VIII. — The Wild Animals of the Cordilleras. — The Llama. — The Alpaca. — The Huanucu. — The Vicuña. — The Condor. — Part 3—Chapter IX. — The Vegetable Productions of the Cordilleras. — Chinchona or Peruvian Bark. — Part 3—Chapter X. — Humming-Birds (Trochilidae) of the Cordilleras and Western Coast. — Sword-Bill Humming-Bird. — Copper-Bellied Puff-Leg. — White-Booted Racket-Tail. — Columbian Thorn-Bill. — Black Warrior. — The Sickle-Bill. — Mars’ Sun-Angel. — Heliangelus Clarissa. — Snow-Cap Humming-Bird. — Spangled Coquette. — Train-Bearer (Leobia Amaryllis). — Hill Star. — The Sappho Comet. — The Phaon Comet—Blue-Tailed Sylph. — Part 3—Chapter XI. — Mammalia. — The Savage Inhabitants of the Amazonian Valley. — The Puma. — The Jaguar. — Ant-Eaters. — Myrmecophaga Tamandua. — Little Ant-Eater. — The Sloth. — The Tapir. — The Peccary. — Hydrochaerus Capybara. — Agouti Dasyprocta. — The Paca (Coelogenys). — The Armadillo. — The Opossum. — The Crab-Eating Opossum. — Merian’s Opossum. — Yapock Opossum. — Bats. — Part 3—Chapter XII. — Quadrumana. — Monkeys. — Spider-Monkeys. — The Chemeck. — Macaco Barrigudo. — The Uakari. — Alouattes, or Howlers. — The Cuxio (Bearded Saki). — The Cacajao. — Marmosets, or Midas Monkeys. — Midas Ursulus. — Midas Leoninas, or Jacchus Rosalia. — Midas Argentatus. — Sai Capicinus. — Horned Capucin. — The Common Capucin. — Parauacu. — Pithecia Hirsuta—Pithecia Albicans. — Saimibi—Callithrix—Teetee—Collared Teetee. — Night Apes, or Douroucouli. — Part 3—Chapter XIII. — Birds. — Humming-Birds. — Topaz Humming-Bird. — Ara Humming-Bird. — The Racket-Tail Humming-Bird. — The Cayenne Fairy. — Cotingas. — The Campanero, or Bell-Bird. — The Umbrella, or Fife-Bird. — The Cock of the Rocks. — Golden-Winged Manakin. — Goatsuckers. — Caciques. — Toucans. — The Realejo, or Organ-Bird. — The Curassow. — Macaws. — Parrots. — Anaca Parrot. — Marianna Parrot. — Trogons. — The Resplendent Trogon. — Jacamars. — The Jacana. — Frigate-Bird Pelicans. — The Horned Screamer. — Vultures. — The Black Vulture. — The Turkey-Buzzard. — Part 3—Chapter XIV. — Reptiles. — Alligators. — The Iguana. — Geckos. — The Anaconda. — The Boa. — The Spotted Boa. — The Ringed Boa. — The Rattlesnake. — The Fer De Lance. — The Bushmaster. — Labarri, or Elaps Lemniscatus. — Whip Snakes. — The Green Snake. — Frogs and Toads. — The Surinam Toad. — Tortoises. — The Chelys Matamata. — Part 3—Chapter XV. — Wonders of Insect Life. — Termites, or White Ants. — Sauba Ants. — The Amphisbaena. — Ecitons. — Robber Ecitons. — Blind Ants. — Centipeds—Cockroaches—Fire-Ants. — Insects—Fire-Flies. — Suspended Cocoons. — Lantern-Fly. — The Tanana. — Wood Beetles. — Spiders. — Bees and Wasps. — Butterflies. — Part 3—Chapter XVI. — Wonders of the Forest. — Aspects of the Forest. — Buttress Trees. — Sipos or Wild Vines. — The Cow-Tree. — Monkeys’ Drinking-Cups—Brazil-Nut Tree. — The Victoria Regia. — Palms. — Part 3—Chapter XVII. — The Wonders of the Waters. — The Manatee, or Cow-Fish. — Piranha. — The Diodon. — The Acara. — Anableps. — The Parrot-Fish. — The Gymnotus. — Localisation of Fish. — Gymnotus, or Electric Eel. — Sting-Rays. — Serrosalmus Piraya. — The Caribe. — Adaptation of Animals to their destined Mode of Existence. — Part 3—Chapter XVIII. — Natives of the Valley of the Amazon. — The Mundurucus. — General Character of the Natives. — The Purupurus. — The Catauixis. — Part 3—Chapter XIX. — Indian Weapons and Modes of Killing Game. — The Blow-Pipe. — Wourali Poison. — Timbó. — Mode of Shooting and Netting Turtle. — Another Mode of Catching Fish. — Poisoning Birds. — The Long-Bow. — Stalking Game. — Mode of Killing Alligators. — Turtle-Catching and Collecting Eggs. — Oil from Turtles’ Eggs. — Fishing-Nets and Baskets. — Canoes. — Musical Instruments. — Part 4—Chapter I. — Northern Regions of South America. — Venezuela. — Humming-Birds. — Trees. — The Llaneros. — Part 4—Chapter II. — Guiana. — Rivers:—The Essequibo. — The Berbice River. — The Arecuna Indians. — The Corentyn River. — The Demerara River. — Native Tribes. — The Arawaks. — The Guaranis. — The Macusis. — The Acawoios. — Mounds full of Human Remains. — Vegetable Productions. — Part 4—Chapter III. — Central Brazil. — Part 5—Chapter I. — Southern Regions of South America. — Geography and Native Tribes. — The Pampero. — Natives of La Plata and its Tributaries—The Pampas and Patagonia. — The Guaranis and their Descendants. — The Querandis or Pehuelches. — The Payaguas. — Indians of Bolivia—Native Apothecaries. — Tribes of the Gran Chaco. — Jesuit Missions. — Language. — Part 5—Chapter II. — Paraguay. — The Parana. — Natives. — Mountain Scenery. — Gregarious Spiders. — The Chigo, or Sand-Flea. — Fish in the Parana. — Part 5—Chapter III. — The Pampas. — Gauchos of the Pampas. — Breaking-in Colts. — Patagonians. — Deer of the Pampas. — Nata Cattle. — The Bizcacha. — The Peruvian Bizcacha and Chinchilla. — The Tucutuco (Ctenomys Braziliensis). — The Rhea. — Caracara Polyborus. — Owls of the Pampas (Athene Cuniculaeia). — The Pampas Cuckoo (Molothrus Niger). — The Calandria (Mina Orpheus). — Flamingoes. — Oven-Birds. — The Little House-Builder. — The Scissor-Beak. — Parrots. — The Boat-Bill Heron.

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