HEADWATERS OF THE PARAGUAY 125 



approach more or less closely to the ideal which the cats 

 most nearly realize. Wariness, sharp senses, the habit of 

 being rigidly motionless when there is the least suspicion 

 of danger, and ability to take advantage of cover, all 

 count. On the bare, open, treeless plain, whether marsh, 

 meadow, or upland, anything above the level of the grass 

 is seen at once. A marsh-deer out in the open makes no 

 effort to avoid observation; its concern is purely to see its 

 foes in time to leave a dangerous neighborhood. The deer 

 of the neighboring forest skulk and hide and lie still in 

 dense cover to avoid being seen. The white-lipped pec- 

 caries make no effort to escape observation by being either 

 noiseless or motionless; they trust for defence to their 

 gregariousness and truculence. The collared peccary also 

 trusts to its truculence, but seeks refuge in a hole where 

 it can face any opponent with its formidable biting appa- 

 ratus. As for the giant tamandua, in spite of its fighting 

 prowess I am wholly unable to understand how such a slow 

 and clumsy beast has been able through the ages to exist 

 and thrive surrounded by jaguars and pumas. Speaking 

 generally, the animals that seek to escape observation trust 

 primarily to smell to discover their foes or their prey, and 

 see whatever moves and do not see whatever is motionless. 

 By the morning of January 5 we had left the marsh 

 region. There were low hills here and there, and the land 

 was covered with dense forest. From time to time we 

 passed little clearings with palm-thatched houses. We 

 were approaching Caceres, where the easiest part of our 

 trip would end. We had lived in much comfort on the 

 little steamer. The food was plentiful and the cooking 

 good. At night we slept on deck in cots or hammocks. 



