Ch. Vil. SOUTH AMERICA. 55 



colour; but no large bruih on its tail. The hair 

 however is lpun2;y, and forms a bunch proper for the 

 above-mentioned method of defence. 



Nature, which has fnrniihcd the fox with fuch an 

 effectual defence, has not forgot the armadillo, the 

 name of which partly defcribes it. The iize of it is 

 about that of a common rabbit, though of a very dif- 

 ferent fhape ; thefnout, legs, and tail, refembling thofe 

 of a pig. His whole body is covered with a ilrong 

 Ihell, which, anfwering exaéily every where to the ir- 

 regularities of its llru6ture, proteéts it from the infults 

 of other animals, without afiedling its a-itivity. Be- 

 fides this, he hvS another, as a helmet, conneóted by a 

 joint to the former ; this guards his liead, and thus he 

 is every way I'aie. 



Thi^se ihells are variegated with Icv^eral natural re- 

 lievos, as it were, in chiaro ofcuro, fo that they are at 

 once his defence, and a beautiful ornament. The 

 Negroes and Indians, who eat its flefn, give a high 

 charadter of it. 



Among the monkies of this country, tlie moft com- 

 mon are the micos, which are alfo the llnalleil. They 

 are generally about the iize of a cat, of a brownilli 

 colour; and too well known to need any further de- 

 fcription. The larger kind, which arc lefs known, I 

 ihall defcribe in anotlier place. 



The birds feen in this hot climate are fo numerous, 

 that it is impoffible to give a difiinét reprelcntation oí 

 them ; particularly of the beauty and brilliancy of their 

 various plumage. The cries and croakings of fomc, 

 mixed with the warblini;s oí others, dillurb the plea- 

 fure which would flow from the melody of the latter, 

 and render it impoiiible to diftingaifh the different 

 cries of the former; and yet in this inilance we may 

 obferve the wifdom of Nature in diiiributing her fa- 

 vours; the plumage of thofe birds being the moft 

 beautiful, whofe croakings are the moit offeniive ; 

 while, on the other hand, thofe whofe appearance has 



E 4 nothing 



