THE ANIMAL WORLD OF BRAZIL 



countries ; nevertheless, the Brazilian Otter, or Lontra, is said to be 

 nearly extinct as a result of reckless persecution. Workbaskets and 

 bonbonnieres are made of the armoured shell of the Armadillo, and 

 one single business house in Hanover has sold more than a thousand 

 of such baskets. Even the beautiful beetles and butterflies become 

 objects of foreign trade. In the woods of Tijuca I saw with great 

 satisfaction that placards had been posted forbidding the destruction 

 or removal of natural objects. But apparently the splendid blue 

 Morpho butterfly was not regarded as a natural object, for by the 

 waterfall it was offered for sale to the public in boxes. In Rio too I 

 saw in the shop-windows all sorts of ridiculous things which had 

 been made out of the metallic blue wings of the Morpho. 



If the original natural environment were still extant in all parts 

 of Brazil, the danger of extirpation would not be great. But as we 

 saw in the last chapter, the soil is being more and more widely 

 cultivated, and at the same time the forest is being destroyed in 

 regions which are unfitted for agricultural exploitation. The animals 

 thereby lose their refuge and their breeding-places; their natural 

 conditions of life are disturbed, and reckless persecution may easily 

 make an end of them. Not only will Brazil have lost its loveliest 

 jewels, but agriculture, as I have already pointed out, will have been 

 deprived of its best auxiliaries. 



For this reason every Brazilian who loves his country and has its 

 future at heart should do his utmost to ensure the passing of pro- 

 tective laws. Mexico has taken measures to protect its green Quetzals, 

 its antelopes, and its wild sheep, and has restored large areas to their 

 natural state. On the motion of Dr. Leon Suarez the Pan-American 

 scientific Congress of Lima (1924) resolved that the individual States 

 should appoint commissions for the protection of natural life. The 

 Argentine has just appointed such a commission for the protection of 

 threatened animal and vegetable species. Professor Hugo Salomon 

 of Buenos Aires being the president. It is high time that Brazil did 

 the like ; for now Matto Grosso, Goyaz and other parts of the interior 

 are beginning to be cultivated, which hitherto, with their intact 

 natural environment, were able to replenish the fauna which was 

 progressively receding from the coastal belt. Once the interior is 

 completely cleared it will be too late to save the animal life of Brazil. 



The following measures are of prime importance : 



I, The export of the skins and feathers of birds must be prohibited 

 under penalties. These natural adornments are for Brazil, not for 

 the hats of European women. 



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