Division of Nicaragua into three zones.--Journey from Juigalpa to lake of Nicaragua.--Voyage on lake.--Fresh-water shells and insects.--Similarity of fresh-water productions all over the world. --Distribution of European land and fresh-water shells.--Discussion of the reasons why fresh-water productions have varied less than those of the land and of the sea. CHAPTER 19. Iguanas and lizards.--Granada.--Politics.--Revolutions.--Cacao cultivation.--Masaya.--The lake of Masaya.--The volcano of Masaya. --Origin of the lake basin. CHAPTER 20. Indian population of the country lying between the great lakes of Nicaragua and the Pacific.--Discovery and conquest of Nicaragua by the Spaniards.--Cruelties of the Spaniards.--The Indians of Western Central America all belonged to one stock.--Decadence of Mexican civilisation before the arrival of the Spaniards.--The designation "Nahuatls" proposed to include all the Mexican, Western Central American, and Peruvian races that had descended from the same ancient stock.--The Nahuatls distinct from the Caribs on one side and the Red Indians on the other.--Discussion of the question of the peopling of America. CHAPTER 21. Return to Santo Domingo.--The birds of Chontales.--The insects of Chontales.--Mimetic forms.--Departure from the mines.--Nicaragua as a field for emigration.--Journey to Greytown.--Return to England. INDEX. . . . LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PLATE 1. SKETCH MAP OF NICARAGUA. PLATE 2. ALLIGATORS. PLATE 3. HEADS OF MOT-MOTS. PLATE 4. COMMISSIONER'S HOUSE AT SANTO DOMINGO. PLATE 5. NEST OF LEAF-CUTTING ANT. PLATE 6. MACHINERY OF CHONTALES GOLD-MINING COMPANY. PLATE 7. SECTION OF MINE SHOWING METHOD OF EXTRACTING THE ORE. PLATE 8. SECTION OF SAN ANTONIO LODE. PLATE 9. HUMMING-BIRDS (Florisuga mellivora, LINN.). PLATE 10. TONGUES OF HUMMING-BIRD AND WOODPECKER. PLATE 11. PITCHER-FLOWER (Marcgravia nepenthoides). PLATE 12. FLOWER OF THE "PALOSABRE." PLATE 13. ADVENTURE WITH A JAGUAR. PLATE 14. PENA BLANCA. PLATE 15. INDIAN STATUES. PLATE 16. PATH UP STEEP HILL. PLATE 17. QUISCALUS. PLATE 18. BULL'S-HORN THORN. PLATE 19. LEAF OF MELASTOMA. PLATE 20. NATIVE STILL. PLATE 21. NATIVE PLOUGH. PLATE 22. GEOLOGICAL SECTION NEAR OCOTAL. PLATE 23. HORNET AND MIMETIC BUG. PLATE 24. GEOLOGICAL SECTION AT MASAYA. PLATE 25. LONGICORN BEETLES OF CHONTALES. PLATE 26. LEAF INSECT. PLATE 27. MOSS INSECT. . . . PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.