PLANARI^ 



29 



weather, as we approached the equator, had not destroyed all 

 the individuals, there can be no doubt that this last step would 

 have completed its structure. Although so well known an ex- 

 periment, it was interesting to watch the gradual production of 

 every essential organ, out of the simple extremity of another 

 animal. It is extremely difficult to preserve these Planariae ; as 

 soon as the cessation of life allows the ordinary laws of change 

 to act, their entire bodies become soft and fluid, with a rapidity 

 which I have never seen equalled. 



I first visited the forest in which these Planariae were found, 

 in company with an old Portuguese priest who took me out to 

 hunt with him. The sport consisted in turning into the cover 

 a few dogs, and then patiently waiting to fire at any animal 

 which might appear. We were accompanied by the son of a 

 neighbouring farmer — a good specimen of a wild Brazilian youth. 

 He was dressed in a tattered old shirt and trousers, and had his 

 head uncovered : he carried an old-fashioned gun and a large 

 knife. The habit of carrying the knife is universal ; and in 

 traversing a thick wood it is almost necessary, on account of 

 the creeping plants. The frequent occurrence of murder may be 

 partly attributed to this habit. The Brazilians are so dexterous 

 with the knife that they can throw it to some distance with pre- 

 cision, and with sufficient force to cause a fatal wound. I have 

 seen a number of little boys practising this art as a game of 

 play, and from their skill in hitting an upright stick, they pro- 

 mised well for more earnest attempts. My companion, the day 

 before, had shot two large bearded monkeys. These animals 

 have prehensile tails, the extremity of which, even after death, 

 can support the whole weight of the body. One of them thus 

 remained fast to a branch, and it was necessary to cut down a 

 large tree to procure it. This was soon effected, and down 

 came tree and monkey with an awful crash. Our day's sport, 

 besides the monkey, was confined to sundry small green parrots 

 and a iQ.\v toucans. I profited, however, by my acquaintance 

 with the Portuguese padre, for on another occasion he gave me 

 a fine specimen of the Yagouaroundi cat. 



Every one has heard of the beauty of the scenery near Boto- 

 fogo. The house in which I lived was seated close beneath the 

 well-known mountain of the Corcovado. It has been remarked, 

 with much truth, that abruptly conical hills are characteristic of 



