398 EXPLANATORY INDEX. 



as stuffing for pillows and couches. The native never troubles 

 himself to remove the seeds, which are hard, spherical, nearly 

 black, and about as large as peas. 



COUANACOUCHI (Ldchesis mutus). Popularly called Bush- 

 master, a name originally given to it by the Dutch. Some- 

 times it is called Curucuru. When living, it is as beautiful 

 as it is deadly, but the lovely prismatic colours which play 

 over the body during life are extinguished in death, and not 

 even "Waterton could restore to the skin the beauty of the 

 living serpent. It is found both in trees and on the ground. 



COUCOURITE-PALM. There are several species of this palm, 

 all belonging to the genus Maximiliana. The most beautiful 



COUCOURITE. 



of them is the species mentioned by Waterton, and appro- 

 priately named Maximiliana regia. " In this plant," writes 

 Kingsley, " the pinnae are set on all at the same distance 

 apart, and all in the same planes in opposite sides of the 

 stalk, giving to the whole foliage a grand simplicity ; and 

 producing, when the curving leaf -points toss in the breeze, 



