130 THE DISPERSAL OF SHELLS. 



ing the Amazon in a canoe, from the vast quantity ot 

 drift-wood constantly propelled against them by the 

 current ; so much so^ that their safety depended on the 

 crew being always on the alert to turn aside the trunks 

 of trees with long poles. The tops alone of some of 

 ^he trees appeared above water, others had their roots 

 attached to them with so much soil that they might be 

 compared to floating islets. On these, say the travellers, 

 we saw some very singular assemblages of animals, 

 pursuing peacefully their uncertain way in strange com- 

 panionship. On one raft were several grave-looking 

 storks, perched by the side of a party of monkeys, who 

 made comical gestures, and burst into loud cries on see- 

 ing the canoe. On another was seen a number of 

 ducks and divers, sitting by a group of squirrels. Next 

 came down, upon the stem of a large rotten cedar tree, 

 an enormous crocodile, by the side of a tiger-cat, both 

 animals regarding each other with hostility and mistrust, 

 but the saurian being evidently most at his ease, as 

 conscious of his superior strength. 



" Similar green rafts, principally composed of canes 

 and brushwood, are called 'camelotes' on the Parana in 

 South America ; and they are occasionally carried down 

 by inundations, bearing on them the tiger, cayman, 

 squirrels, and other quadrupeds, which are said to be 

 always terror-stricken on their floating habitation. No 

 less than four tigers (pumas) were landed in this manner 

 in one night at Monte Video, lat. 35° S., to the great 

 alarm of the inhabitants, who found them prowling 

 about the streets in the morning. 



