File:The naturalist in Nicaragua - a narrative of a residence at the gold mines of Chontales; journeys in the savannahs and forests; with observations on animals and plants in reference to the theory of (14593891399).jpg

Identifier: naturalistinnic00belt (find matches)
Title: The naturalist in Nicaragua : a narrative of a residence at the gold mines of Chontales; journeys in the savannahs and forests; with observations on animals and plants in reference to the theory of evolution of living forms
Year: 1888 (1880s)
Authors: Belt, Thomas, 1832-1878 Tippmann Collection (North Carolina State University). NCRS
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: London : Edward Bumpus, 5 & 6 Holborn Bars, E.C.
Contributing Library: NCSU Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: NCSU Libraries

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ingspecial means of protection, and preserved from theirenemies in consequence of that unconscious imitation.The resemblance, which was perhaps at first only remote,is supposed to have been increased in the course of agesby the varieties being protected that more and moreclosely approached the species imitated, in form, colour^and movements. These resemblances are not onlybetween insects of different genera and orders, butbetween insects and Howers, leaves, twigs, and barkof trees, and between insects and inanimate nature.They serve often for concealment, as when leaves areimitated by leaf-insects and many butterflies, or for adisguise that enables predatory species to get withinreach of their prey, as in those spiders that resemblethe petals of flowers amongst which they hide. That I may not travel over the same ground twice,I may here mention that on a subsequent visit to Grey-town I rode a few miles northward along the beach. Onmy return, I tied up the horse and walked about a mile
Text Appearing After Image:
Ch. I.) ALLIGATORS. 9 over the sand-back that extends down to the mouth ofthe river. A long, deep branch forms a favourite resortfor alligators. At the far end of a sand-spit, near wheresome low trees grew, I saw several dark objects lying-close to the water on the shelving banks. They werealligators basking in the sun. As I approached, most ofthem crawled into the water. Mr. Hollenbeck had beendown a few days before shooting at them with a ritle, totry to get a skull of one of the monsters, and I passed adead one that he had shot. As I walked up the beach,I saw many that were not less than fifteen feet in length.One lay motionless, and thinking it was another deadone, I was walking up to it, and had got within threeyards, when I saw the film over its eye moving ; other-wise it was quite still, and its teeth projecting beyondits lips added to its intense ugliness and appearance ofdeath. There was no doubt, however, about the move-ment of the eye-covers, and I went back a short distancnaturalistinnic00belt

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