Page:A narrative of travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro.djvu/355

 THE AMAZON DISTRICT. 315

Priodonta gigas? Tatuassu, (Lingoa Geral). The great Armadillo. — Rather scarce.

Tatusia septemcinctus ? Tatu, (Lingoa Geral). — This and another very small species are the most abundant in the Amazon district, but can seldom be procured except by hunting with dogs. All the kinds are eaten, and their flesh is very white and delicate.

Didelphis. Opossum. Mucura, (LingoaGeral). — Several

species are found. They frequent the neighbourhood of houses, and attack poultry. The young are carried in an abdominal pouch, like the kangaroos, and have their little prehensile tails twisted round that of the mother.

Hydrochcerus capybara. Capywara, (Lingoa Geral). — This animal is found on all the river-banks. It feeds on grass, and takes to the water and dives when pursued. It is sometimes eaten, but is not considered very good.

Cozlogenis paca. Pa'ca. (Lingoa Geral). — This animal is generally abundant. It is nocturnal, and is much esteemed for its meat, which is the very best the country produces, being fat, delicate, and very tender.

Dasyprocta nigricans, Natt. Black Agouti. Cotia, (Lingoa Geral). — This species is found on the Rio Negro.

D. punctata 1 Yellow Agouti. — This is probably the common Amazon species.

D. agouti? Cotiwya, (Lingoa Geral). — A smaller species, very widely distributed. All are eaten, but the meat is rather dry and tasteless.

Cercolabes prehensilis. The Brazilian Porcupine. — This animal is scarce. It is eaten by the Indians.

Echimys. Several species of these curious, spinous, rat- like animals are found on the Upper Rio Negro.

Cercoleptes caudivolvus. The Potto. — It is a nocturnal animal, and inhabits the banks of the Upper Amazon.

Nasua olivacea? Coati. — Two species, the "Coati" and the " Coati mondi " of the Indians, are found on the Amazon.

Lontra Brasiliensis ? The Brazilian Otter, — is abundant on the Rio Negro.

Galera barbara. Irara, (Lingoa Geral). Teeth, 1. 1 C. ^ M. g. This is a curious animal, somewhat allied to the bears. It lives in trees, and eats honey, whence probably its Indian name, — from Ira, in the Lingoa Geral, " honey."