The Andes and The Amazon

Description

The Andes and The Amazon with the subtitle, “Across the Continent of South America”, describes the scientific exploration of 1867 to the tropical Andes and the Amazon. The path was from Guayaquil to Quito, to the Cordillera past the forest to Napo, and, through the Rio Napo to Pebas on the Maranon.

Aside from this expedition, under the authority of the Smithsonian Institute, gathered examples of rocks and plants, and a variety of specimen of animals. The scientists also made a compilation of a word book of local languages and made their own sketch of equatorial America.

James Orton was born at Seneca Falls, New York. He was an American naturalist who bestowed much information of South America and the Amazon basin. He was a Professor in Natural History in Vassar College, and a correspondent member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

In his younger years, he worked on an interest in studying natural history and writing. Although their family struggled financially, and he suffered from poor health, he eventually finished his studies at William College in 1860. In 1858, he graduated at Andover Theological Seminary as he was later ordained as a pastor.

He expedited in South America in 1867 with his students. He founded the first fossils which were seen in the valley of the Napo River. He made a secondary trip in 1873, and crossed the Amazon, to Limaand Lake Titicaca. In 1876, he journeyed to Beni River, which moves the waters of eastern Bolivia to the Amazon by passing of the Madeira River, he died on his way when he passed the Lake Titicaca in going to Puno.

Orton is excellent in the field of geology and physical geography of the west coast of South America and the Amazon valley.

Two South American species are named in his behalf, Anolis ortonii and Boa constrictor ortonii.
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