263 TJie Jararaca 



Jararacas. Their black and yellow livery spotted the whole 

 space. The hot sun had summoned them all out to bask in his rays. 

 I had stumbled into a perfect nation of them. There they lay — 

 every head erect, every mouth open, and every eye turned upon 

 me. I thought the way by which I came must at least be free. 

 I looked back. No ! they appeared as numerous behind me 

 as before. I must actually have brushed close by some of 

 them as I pushed through the bushes. I was completely 

 surrounded — the cynosure of all eyes — the object of universal 

 attention. It was like a horrid nightmare. I had found my way 

 into Pandemonium, and stood like Satan with all the evil spirits 

 sitting around me in the shape of serpents. For an instant I felt 

 chained to the spot ; my heart stood still. But one thinks quick 

 in such emergencies. I had escaped in my way in, and I thought 

 my best chance of escape would be by following the same route 

 out. Gently, gingerly, and slowly I backed my way out of the thick 

 of them, until the bushes were more free from them, when I 

 changed my tactics, took fairly to my heels, and in a series of 

 bounds, more cervine than human, I found myself out of the con- 

 venticle." 



Our friend may thus say that he has been present at a public 

 meeting or parliament of the Jararacas. From its constitution one 

 might rather describe them as members of the lower house, but 

 the silence, decorum, attention to the business in hand (basking 

 in the sun), and the look of quiet but dignified surprise wdth 

 which they effectually repressed the intrusion of a stranger, must 

 have more reminded him of our Upper House. The shortness 

 of his stay, and the promptitude of his retreat, however, pre- 

 vented him from obtaining information on some points which 

 excited his curiosity. Where did they all come from, and where 

 would they have all gone to when the meeting broke up and 

 the sun went down ? Although the creature is not unfrequently 

 met with in the neighbourhood of Rio, it is generally solitary. It 

 shews what multitudes there must be of them in some localities, 

 and how, until favourable circumstances call them forth and reveal 

 their numbers, we may form most erroneous impressions as to the 

 relative numbers of the animals composing a Fauna. 



