Creative Commons image © 2013 John P. Clare. The men on the expedition felt overwhelmed by their most ancient memories in that paradise of dampness and silence, going back to before original sin, as their boots sank into pools of steaming oil and their machetes destroyed bloody lilies and golden salamanders. – One Hundred Years […]
Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) Read More »
SALAMANDER, n. Originally a reptile inhabiting fire; later, an anthropomorphous immortal, but still a pyrophile. Salamanders are now believed to be extinct, the last one of which we have an account having been seen in Carcassonne by the Abbe Belloc, who exorcised it with a bucket of holy water. The Devil’s Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce. 1911
Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzil) Read More »
This is a small primate, about 16 inches tall – but with striking coloration. They have orange-brown fur, a golden crown, a white tip on the tail, and dark red hands and feet. It also is known as the Madidi titi monkey, and is only found in Madidi National Park in Bolivia, which spans from
Golden Palace Monkey (Callicebus ureipalatti) Read More »
There is a great abundance of a species of bear-grass which grows on every part of these mountains. Its growth is luxouriant and continues green all winter but the horses will not eat it. Meriwether Lewis June 15, 1806 – Bitterroot Mountains Beargrass, to start off – is not a grass but a member of the
Beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax) Read More »
From Arroyo de Elmedio to Arroyo de Pabon, fifteen miles. From Arroyo de Pabon to Mananciales, ten miles. As we pursued our journey late in the evening, we saw large flocks of ostriches (Rhea), which had come forth from the long grass to refresh themselves with water. On the following day some of our attendants