316 VIEW OF THE EXTINCT FAUNA OF BRAZIL. 



mark on the belly, immediately above the navel. It climbs 

 up trees with facility, but most frequently keeps to the ground, 

 where it walks upright like a man. While young it is a quiet, 

 inoffensive creature, living upon fruits, and its teeth are shaped 

 like the human ; but as it increases in age, it becomes rapa- 

 cious and bloodthirsty ; it takes to chasing birds and small 

 mammals ; huge canine teeth project from its mouth, and it 

 is dangerous even to man. Its skin is impenetrable to ball, 

 everywhere except the white mark on its belly. The natives 

 dread this animal, and avoid the spots it frequents, which 

 are rendered evident by the Caypore's characteristic footmark ; 

 for, according to this same tradition, its foot is not formed 

 like that of man, but ends in a heel, both before and behind, 

 so that it is impossible to know in which direction the ani- 

 mal has gone. It is easy to recognize in many of the traits 

 of this mysterious creature's natural history, the childish em- 

 bellishments of a savage race. The meaning of an anterior 

 heel is evidently this ; that the forepart of the foot is not 

 broader than the hind, and that the impressions of the toes 

 are not distinguishable. As to the white spot on the belly, 

 I must remark that all the long-haired apes, now found here, 

 have the central part of the belly very thinly covered with 

 hair, so that when the hair is of a dark colour, and the skin 

 light, an effect is produced during the act of respiration, as 

 if there were a white spot on the stomach. The impene- 

 trability of its hide may seem fabulous ; but I really am 

 acquainted with a species of this family, the Guigo [Mycetes 

 crinicaiidus, mihi), which has this property. Thisundescribed 

 animal (which constitutes a remarkable link between Mycetes 

 and Cebus, inasmuch as it combines the vocal organs of the 

 former with the perfectly hairy tail of the latter), is provided 

 with a skin clothed with such long and felted hair, as to be 

 proof against shot on its back and sides. It would seem to 

 be well aware of its good buckler ; for instead of seeking 

 safety in flight, like other apes, on the approach of danger, 

 it rolls itself up in a ball, as if to cover the part least pro- 

 tected with hair, and thus bids defiance to the hunter's shot. 

 I have introduced this tradition, less on account of its zoo- 

 logical interest, than for the striking coincidence it displays 

 in many points with the stories related of the Pongo of Bor- 

 neo. If no such animal exists in the district where this tra- 

 dition is current, whence did it arise ? Is it possible that the 

 Indians have received it from their forefathers ? And may 

 this tradition then be considered as one more testimony to 

 the Asiatic origin of the first inhabitants of America ? I 

 have given this tradition as it is told by the Indians of the 



