Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/237

DOUROUCOULI and flows westward ; this continues to be its faneral direction, in which it passes Aranda, oro, Zamora, and Miranda, until it empties into the Atlantic at Oporto. Its current is rapid, and its course for the most part through narrow valleys. For about 50 miles it forms the boundary between Spain and Portugal. It is navigable for small vessels as far as the Spanish frontier, and receives the waters of the Pisuerga, Sequillo, Esla, Sabor, Tua, and Ta- mego from the north, and the Adaja, Tormes, Agueda, Coa, and Tavora from the south, be- sides many smaller streams. Navigation is often interrupted by freshets, and the river is but little used for commerce. On its banks are the vineyards which produce the celebrated wines of Oporto. Its length is estimated at 450 to 500 in. DOUROUCOIJLI (nyctipithecus trimrgatm a .small monkey found in Guiana and Brazil. In this genus the middle incisors are broad, and the canines moderate ; eyes large ; exter- nal ears not prominent beyond the fur ; hind feet longest ; tail longer than the body, not DOVE 229 Douroucouli. prehensile. As its generic name implies, it is nocturnal, sleeping by day, but very active and fierce at night in search of insects and small birds. It is about 9 in. long, with a tail of 14 in. ; the fur is soft, grayish white, with a brown line on the back, three dark stripes on the head, and yellowish brown below. It looks more like a cat than a monkey, and the mouth is surrounded by bristly white hairs. When seated it assumes the position of a dog, and when sleeping the head is bent forward be- tween _the feet ; it is difficult to tame, and its voice is loud and disagreeable. Humboldt called it aotes, earless, though the ears are not particularly small. It lives in pairs, and resem - bles in appearance and habits the lemurs of the old world. F. Cuvier gave it the name of noc- thora, from its nocturnal habits. DOUVILLE, Jean Baptist*, a French traveller and naturalist, born at Hambie, Feb. 15, 1794, disappeared in the wilds of South America about 1833. He travelled in Europe, South America, and Asia, landing at Genoa on his return in 1824. In 1826 he went to Paris, where he was made member of the geographical society, and then sailed for Buenos Avres. The river La Plata was at that time under blockade by the Brazilians, and the French vessel was captured ; but Douville was befriended by the Brazilian admiral, and sent to Buenos Ayres, where, find- ing his resources nearly exhausted, he attempt- ed to replenish them by mercantile operations. Accused of some fraudulent transaction of which he was acquitted, he left Buenos Ayres in disgust, and went to Rio de Janeiro. On Oct. 15, 1827, he embarked for Congo, whence he returned to France in 1831. The stories of his discoveries in several kingdoms hitherto almost unknown to Europeans, and of his ex- ploration of the Congo or Zaire and other rivers, aroused great enthusiasm among the Parisians. He received a medal from the geo- graphical society; his researches were pub- lished under the title of Voyage au Congo et dans VAfrique equinoxiale (4 vols., with a map, Paris, 1832), and his book and chart were used as the basis of subsequent maps of Africa. But the " Foreign Quarterly Review " assailed him as an impostor, and a few weeks later his deceptions were more fully exposed in the Revue des Deux Mondes. To cover his shame by real discoveries, he sailed for Brazil in 1833, and penetrated to the interior of South America by the Amazon, where, according to an uncer- tain report, he was killed. DOUW, or Dow, Gerard, a Dutch painter, born in Ley den in 1613, died there in 1680. After receiving instruction in his early boyhood in drawing and in painting on glass, he became in 1628 a pupil of Rembrandt, under whom he studied for three years. He began with por- trait painting, but was so extremely slow that no one would sit to him. He then painted do- mestic scenes. He was so exact in imitation, that a glass is needed to appreciate the skill and delicate finish of his work. His drawing was neither bold nor correct, but his figures are not wanting in life and expression, and his coloring is strong, fresh, and harmonious. He had none of the poetical taste of his master, for his pictures generally consist of two or three figures engaged in the most trivial and often disagreeable occupations, as many of their titles indicate. Among the most cele- brated are the "Dropsical Woman," the " Vil- lage Grocer's Wife," the "Dentist," and the " Violin Player." His works are to be found in all the public galleries of Europe, but private fortunes could hardly command them, for it was Douw's rule to be paid for his pictures ac- cording to the time they cost him. DOVE. See PIGEON. DOVE, a river of England, rising on Axe Edge hill, near Buxton, in the K W. part of Derbyshire, flowing S. and S. E. for about 40 m., and emptying into the Trent a short dis- tance below Burton. For almost its entire course it forms the boundary between Derby- shire and Staffordshire. It is remarkable for the clearness of its water and the picturesque- ness of its banks, especially in that part of its valley known as Dove Dale, where, near Ash-