Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/231

BRAZIL 225 in immense quantities in most of the prov- inces, the oranges of Pard being at once re- markable for excellence and abundance. The zoology of Brazil is no less remarkable than its botany for the variety of species which it comprises. Among the animals not indi- genous to the country are the horse, ass, sheep, hog, and dog. Numerous herds of horned cattle roam wild over the vast plains of the in- terior, and considerable numbers in a domestic state on the large plantations of the southern and central provinces. The horses compare favorably with those of other South American states; but the sheep and swine are in gene- ral of inferior breeds, though the markets of the large cities afford some excellent mutton. Wild pigs inhabit the forests and are hunted for food. Game in great variety abounds throughout the wooded region, and especially deer, hare, and squirrels. Here also are the great maneless lion (cougar or puma) ; the ja- guar, whose strength enables it to kill a young bull and drag the carcass to the summit of a hill ; the ocelot (felis pardalis), and two other species of felida. All these the Brazilians designate by the single generic term onfa (ounce), distinguishing them, however, into three species according to the color of the skin: the onca preta, onfa pintado,, and on fa de lombo preto. Wolves, cachorras do matto (dogs of the woods), a species of fox, and antas (American tapir) are common ; as are likewise sloths, pacas (calogenys paca), agou- tis, and armadillos ; the three last named spe- cies ranking among the most highly esteemed game of the country. Three small species of deer, the tapir, the largest quadruped in the empire, two or three species of large felida, two kinds of wild hog, the capybara, and the paca comprise nearly all the large game of this region. Small agoutis, sloths, armadillos, and ant-eaters are common. The capybara (hydro- charus capybara) frequents the banks of the rivers, eats grass, and dives when pursued. Its flesh, though frequently eaten, is not very good, while that of the paca is particularly savory and tender. Many species of opossum occur, and are very destructive to poultry. The flesh of the armadillo, both species of which are eaten, is white and delicate. The large ant-eater is a powerful animal ; the In- dians assert that it sometimes kills the jaguar ; and the various species of sloth are a favorite prey of the harpy eagle. Otters, the echimys (a kind of rat), two species of coati, porcupines, iraras or honey-eaters, water rats, and vari- ous other species of rodents are not uncom- mon. There are over 30 known species of monkeys in the basin of the Amazon, and probably twice that number in all Brazil ; of these the mycetes, or howlers, are the largest ; the coaita and many other kinds are esteemed for the delicacy of their flesh. Rabbits are common in the central provinces; and vam- pires often cause much trouble by biting horses, cattle, and even men. Chief among the pre- daceous birds are the king vulture and the harpy eagle, which, with a great variety of smaller eagles, hawks, kites, owls, &c., inhabit the Amazon region, and all but the first two are found in most parts of the empire. There are two other species of fine eagles inhabiting the Tipper Amazon exclusively. Wallace reckons at least 30 distinct species of parrots, varying in size from the tiny psittaculus passerimis to the magnificent crimson macaw, and some 20 varieties of humming birds. Immense flocks of aquatic birds frequent the rivers and lakes ; the American ostrich (rhea Americana) ranges from Ceara to the Uruguay ; and there is an infinite variety of small birds, whose showy and brilliant plumage forms a gay con- trast with the monotonous, never-fading ver- dure of Brazilian vegetation. During certain seasons of the year frigate birds, gulls, and sev- eral other species of marine birds resort in num- bers to the Abrolhos. A remarkable bird is the siriemma, a sort of small ostrich, occurring in the highland deserts ; it is easily tamed, and then be- comes very useful for the extermination of ser- pents, which form its chief food. Five species of toucans inhabit the woods of Ega, all remark- able for the enormous size and light structure of their beaks, which are often two inches wide and seven long. Turkeys, geese, ducks, Guinea fowl, and other poultry are met with in every form ; and wild turkeys, peacocks, wild geese, &c., are very numerous. Some travellers have spoken of a kind of lyre bird in Minas Geraes. Among the reptiles, the boa constrictor (jiboia), and the anaconda (sucurujA) come first in or- der. Wallace says the latter is decidedly the larger of the two ; but both attain to an enor- mous size, and it is generally believed in the country that they sometimes reach from 60 to 80 feet in length. Poisonous serpents abound, and there are numerous varieties, the most ter- rible of all being the jararaca ; it is common in all the southern provinces, and its bite, near- ly always mortal, is immediately followed by the most poignant suffering. The jararacas- su is a larger variety of the preceding. The cobra coral, or coral serpent ; the cobra sipo, or liane snake, dangerous from the grayish color of the skin, similar to that of the lianes around which it entwines itself to lie in wait for its prey; the cobra fria, or cold snake, whose body is frigid as ice; and the rattle- snake (cascavel), are all exceedingly venomous, and rarely exceed two yards in length. Three or four distinct species of alligators abound in the Amazon and all its tributaries. The small- er ones are eaten by the natives, and they in their turn are devoured by the large ones. Be- sides the jurara, the largest and most abundant of the Brazilian turtles, there are various other species ; from their eggs, the yolks of which are very good eating, is extracted an oil much used for light and in culinary preparations. The rivers and lakes abound in fish of endless variety ; in every small river, even in different parts of the same river, distinct species occur;