CHAPTER XIV 
EASTERN SOUTH AMERICA 
When we consider that Brazil covers an area larger than 
that of the whole of Europe, merely the roughest outlines of 
the general zoological features of that vast country can be 
attempted in a work of this nature. The highlands of Brazil, 
as I have mentioned already, are confined to the east, being 
surrounded by the ocean on one side and by a continuous 
tract of lowlands on the others. It is believed that the 
mountains were once continuous with those of Guiana 
right across the present mouth of the river Amazon. 
The whole of the area between the two great highlands 
of Brazil and Guiana is drained by the mighty Amazon, 
whose waters exceed in quantity that of any river in the world. 
Tho Paraguay and its tributary the Parana drain the south¬ 
western parts of Brazil. Practically the whole of the country 
lies in the tropics. The combined influence of high tempera¬ 
ture and abundance of moisture thus produces that exuber¬ 
ance of animal and plant life which is so characteristic of 
Brazil. The great tropical forests are truly bewildering in the 
wealth and variety of their vegetation, and it is here that we 
realize more than anywhere else the keen struggle for exist¬ 
ence as applied to plants and animals. In their constant efforts 
to reach the light, and in their endeavour to obtain a full share 
of it, the trees crowd and press upon one another until the 
weaker succumb. In their turn they are invaded again by 
others, while hosts of enemies, parasitic plants and climbers, 
twine round and strangle the less sturdy long before they 
succeed in attaining their object. We are thus presented with 
a scene of savage warfare among plants. It is less evident 
among animals. But the ringing sound of the multitude of 
voices issuing out of the forest reminds the traveller that in 
this teeming profusion of nature there must be an acute 
