Identifier: frankradcliffest1884daun (find matches)
Title: Frank Radcliffe; a story of travel and adventure in the forests of Venezuela
Year: 1884 (1880s)
Authors: Daunt, Achilles
Subjects:
Publisher: London, New York, T. Nelson
Contributing Library: Brown University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brown University

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of these raptorials, whichhad conofreofated to devour the carcass of a bullocklying among the rocks. One huge fellow was perchedupon the body, and by the ferocity of his mannerkept his companions at a respectful distance, whilehe prepared to commence his meal. Seeing us, theentire flock rose and flapped off, suggesting the ideaof a flock of demons disturbed in the performance ofsome unholy rite. On the banks of a small rill, scarcely two yardswide, which trickled from a spring, we observed somehandsome plants, which, on a nearer inspection, Irecognized as the Philodendron gloriosum. Georgeand I gathered a few of the huge cordate leaves,which grew on a long straggling tendril lying alongthe ground. Other curious plants grew at this spot,among which I noticed the aninga, a plant whichbelongs to the Colocasice. On the trees around, too,were many beautiful orchids and lianas, among whichthe rope-like roots of the large-leaved imbe attractedmy attention; and at a little distance, among the
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VULTURES DEVOURING CARCASS OF A BULLOCK. Page 350. FECUNDITY OF NATURE. 353 trunks of some palms, a dense undergrowth of theslender myrtacetB and cacao - bushes covered theground and formed an impenetrable jungle. The traveller never ceases to marvel at the ex-tiaordinary fecundity of nature in tropical countries.Every yard yields a harvest of plants which inEurope would elicit admiration, but which here passunnoticed by all, except himself, as being too com-monplace to excite either admiration or curiosity.What a field for the botanist and the naturalist herelies ready to be explored! These vast forests teemwith animal and vegetable productions which havenever been classified; plants abound which possesshighly medicinal and other most valuable qualities,and of which a few only are known to the savageswho roam throuofh these unvisited solitudes. It istrue that one or two well-known men have gleaneda little from this bountiful harvest; but how muchyet remains to be done ! So much, that

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