THE AMAZON DISTRICT. 315 



Priodonta gigasl Tatuassii, (Lingoa Geral). The great 

 Armadillo. Rather scarce. 



Tatusia septemcinctusl 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. Muciira, (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. 



Hydrochczrus 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. 



Coslogems paca. Paca. (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 nigrica?is, Natt. Black Agouti. Cotia, (Lingoa 

 Geral). This species is found on the Rio Negro. 



D. punctata ? 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 prehetisilis. 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. 



1-1 AT 4-4 



Galera barbara. Irdra, (Lingoa Geral). Teeth, I. -J C. \ \ M 



i-4* 



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.'' 



