NOCTURNAL LIFE OF ANIMALS IN THE PRIMEVAL FOREST 191 Illustrations and Additions 202 Hypsometric Addenda 204 IDEAS FOR A PHYSIOGNOMY OF PLANTS 210 Illustrations and Additions 232 ON THE STRUCTURE AND MODE OF ACTION OF VOLCANOS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE EARTH 353 Illustrations and Additions 376 VITAL FORCE, OR THE RHODIAN GENIUS 380 Illustration and Note 386 THE PLATEAU OF CAXAMARCA, the Ancient Capital of the Inca Atahuallpa, and First View of the Pacific from the Ridge of the Andes 390 Illustrations and Additions 421 INDEX 437 [Illustration: =FAC-SIMILE OF THE HAND-WRITING OF BARON HUMBOLDT.= EXTRACTS OF A LETTER TO THE PUBLISHER. ] SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. ON STEPPES AND DESERTS pp. 1–21. Coast-chain and mountain-valleys of Caracas. The Lake of Tacarigua. Contrast between the luxuriant abundance of organic life and the treeless plains. Impressions of space. The steppe as the bottom of an ancient inland sea. Broken strata lying somewhat above the surface, and called Banks. Uniformity of phenomena presented by plains. Heaths of Europe, Pampas and Llanos of South America, African deserts, North Asiatic Steppes. Diversified character of the vegetable covering. Animal life. Pastoral tribes, who have convulsed the world—pp. 1–5. Description of the South American plains and savannahs. Their extent and climate, the latter dependant on the outline and hypsometrical configuration of the New Continent. Comparison with plains and deserts of Africa—pp. 5–10. Original absence of pastoral life in America. Nutriment yielded by the Mauritia Palm. Pendant huts built in trees. Guaranes—pp. 10–13. The Llanos have become more habitable to man since the discovery of America. Remarkable increase of wild Oxen, Horses, and Mules. Description of the seasons of drought and rain. Aspect of the ground and sky. Life of animals; their sufferings and combats. Adaptability with which nature has endowed animals and plants. Jaguar, Crocodiles, Electric Fishes. Unequal contest between gymnoti and horses—pp. 13–19.