grey
Marmoset, which is so common in the forests of the northern provinces,
is not to be met with here, but another, and perhaps a still more
beautiful species is occasionally found. It is the Jaccus auritus. It
is easily distinguished from all the other species by its nearly
uniform dark colour, and the pencils of long white hairs which come out
from its ears. The Sloth (Acheus Ai) is also occasionally found feeding on the leaves of the Cecropia peltata, which
form his favourite food. One which I had for some time in captivity,
was of a timid and fretful disposition. Like most other animals in
which the brain is small in proportion to the development of the
nervous system, it is very tenacious of life. Although more tardy in
its movements than most quadrupeds of its size, it passes with
considerable rapidity from branch to branch, from which in its progress
it always hangs by the legs and feet. It owes much to Waterton, for
being the first to remove the stigma which Buffon and others put upon
its character. In the river which flows through the valley, the
Brazilian Otter (Lutra Braulierms), and the Capybara (Hydrochcerus capybara), are still occasionally to be met with. A pretty little deer (Cervus nemori-vagus) frequently attracts the sportsman to the woods, as do also the two species of Pecari {Dicotyles labiatus and torquatus), which are so common all over the intertropical parts of South America. A kind of Opossum (Bklelphis Azara) is
as much the pest of the fowl-house as the fox is in Europe. It is very
tenacious of life, getting up and running away when every bone in its
body appears to be broken by the blows which have been inflicted on it.
In the woods an Armadillo {Tatusia peba) is not uncommon, the stewed flesh of which makes excellent food; and in the forests a prehensile-tailed kind of Porcupine (Sphigurus spinosus) is also often met with; they both burrow in the ground. The great Ant-bear (Myrmecop/iaga tamandua) is
rarely, though occasionally, to be met with. Along with the monkeys, a
little brown squirrel is often to be seen sporting among the branches
of the trees. Besides the numerous fly-catchers and other small birds,
the wild pigeons, the flocks of parroquets and parrots, the hawks,
owls, and the various species of Toucans, remarkable for their brilliant
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