THE WONDERS OF VEGETATION. 31 



modulations, such as we hear in temperate zones, are 

 here less frequent they are replaced by songs more 

 grave and measured. Now a voice is heard which 

 seems to imitate the far-sounding blow of the ham- 

 mer upon the anvil, and now a sound falls upon the 

 ear which resembles the sudden breaking of the 

 strings of a violin. All over the forest you hear 

 strange sounds which cause profound astonishment ; 

 but often at sunset, when the birds have ceased their 

 songs, there is heard from the highest tree-tops a 

 voice which would fill the traveller with fear if he 

 were ignorant of the cause. Murmurs like those of 

 the human voice announce that the guaritas (Simia 

 Beelzebub} are beginning one of their assemblies, 

 which are said to be held in honor of the setting sun. 

 Their howls, prolonged in the most lugubrious man- 

 ner, have caused credulous men to believe that these 

 animals are rendering homage to Satan and paying 

 him a tribute which he exacts. . These sounds, heard 

 at the hour when the day dies, are solemn and impos- 

 ing they give a character of sadness to the scene. 

 If the jaguar and the black tiger roar, they fill the 

 forest with a sound which is majestic, but productive 

 also of uneasiness. Harmless animals hearing this 

 dreaded voice suddenly become silent, as if they feared 

 to mingle their utterances with those of the awful 

 master. If in addition to these sounds the wind be- 

 gins to blow violently, bending the lofty summits of 

 the trees, making the palms sigh as they bend low 

 and mingle their moans with the rustling of the 

 lianas, and losing itself finally in the sombre depths 



