Adventures of a Young Naturalist

There is no country on the face of the earth that possesses greater interest in the eyes of the scientific or travelled than Mexico, the scene where the adventures so graphically and clearly narrated in this volume transpired: nor is this partiality to be wondered at when we recall to memory what a lavish hand Nature has subtended to her.

Although several of our most celebrated naturalists have climbed its lofty volcanic mountains, explored its lagoons and giant rivers, and traversed its immense forests, still, from the vast extent of that country and variety of climate--caused by difference of elevation--much yet remains to be done ere the public become thoroughly conversant with its arboreal and zoological productions.

The elephant, hippopotamus, lion, and tiger, the largest and most formidable of the terrestrial mammals of the Old World, are not here to be found; but their places are well supplied by the swamp-loving tapir, the voracious alligator, the stealthy puma, and the blood-thirsty jaguar, all well worthy of the sportsman's rifle, or of the snake-visioned native warrior's weapons--for the power of destruction in these animals during life is great, while after death they either furnish valuable skins or wholesome food. Moreover, here the wolf awakes the reverberating echoes of the forest with its dismal howl; the raccoon, opossum, and squirrel pass their lives in sportive gambols; the wild and the ocellated turkeys strut about, pompous in manner, as if conscious of their handsome plumage, while the timid deer and shaggy-coated bison roam over prairies or through woodland glades, as yet unacquainted with the report of the white man's destructive fire-arms.

Can it, therefore, be surprising that our little hero should have craved to be permitted to have a sight of this new land, so rich in the prospect of adventure? How he behaved himself throughout the numerous ordeals to which he was submitted, suffice it for me to say that his conduct was worthy of the representative of any nationality, and such as was calculated to make all parents proud of their offspring; for whether suffering from thirst or hunger, being persecuted by noxious insects, straying in the woods, even when within reach of the fiercest carnivora or in the presence of the deadliest reptiles, he never for a moment hesitated in performing his seniors' instructions, lost his courage, or, better still, an opportunity of improving his mind.

That the young English reader may benefit as much by the perusal of this work as Master Lucien, otherwise "Sunbeam," did by his journey through the Cordilleras of Mexico, and that they may enjoy the information herein imparted upon the wonderful works of the Creator, is the sincere wish of

THE EDITOR.

[Illustration: Decoration]

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION Page 13

CHAPTER I.

Who we are.--Gringalet.--Sunrise.--The Sugar-cane.--A Halt. 20

CHAPTER II.

Sugar.--Gringalet in the Molasses Tank.--L'Encuerado's obstinate Idea.--An Indian Supper. 34

CHAPTER III.

Waking up in the Morning.--The pigmy World of Lilliput.--L'Encuerado and the Bottles.--Massacre of Thistles.--The Charcoal-burning Indians. 46

CHAPTER IV.

A difficult Ascent.--The Goat.--The Indian Girls.--The Tobacco-plant.--The Bull-fight.--Game.--Lucien's Gun.--Our Entry into the Wilderness. 61

CHAPTER V.

The great Forest.--Crows.--The first Bivouac.--The Squirrel-hunt.--Our young Guide.--The Chant in the Desert. 76

CHAPTER VI.

Coffee.--Turpentine.--Couroucous.--Pine-needles.--Three Volcanoes in sight at once.--The Carabus Family.--Scorpions.--Salamanders.--A midnight Disturbance. 89

CHAPTER VII.

The Cats'-eyes Pomade.--Armadillo.--Lucien and the cruel Fern.--The fallen Mountain.--The Woodpecker.--The Basilisk.--L'Encuerado's fresh Idea. 104

CHAPTER VIII.

A Vulture's Feast.--Dragon's Blood.--A Coral Serpent.--The Owl.--Mexican Moles.--Toucans.--The Scolopacidæ.--L'Encuerado turned Tailor.--Sunset. 119

CHAPTER IX.