94 AFLOAT UPON THE LLANOS. 



now hold bigli carnival in their flooded realms. The wild 

 horses and cattle, which feed in such immense numbers 

 upon the plains, seek the mountains and elevated lands 

 until the waters subside, and the rencAved verdure of 

 spring invites them again to their favorite haunts. Thou- 

 sands are oftentimes overtaken by the periodical deluge, 

 and perish by drowning, or fall prey to crocodiles, water- 

 serpents, and other inhabitants of the element. 



When we reflect upon the many influences that are 

 continually at work for the diminution of these animals, it 

 is not a little surprising that they should maintain their 

 races against the great devastation which would seem to 

 threaten almost their annihilation. Those that escape the 

 perils of the water are continuallj^ in danger from the 

 wild beasts which are crowded with them vipon the up- 

 lands of the savannas. Pestilential diseases often sweep 

 them away by thousands, while man is ever waging 

 against them a war of destruction. Xor are they free 

 from annoying insects, which torment them by day and 

 night, and bats that drain their blood, while lulling them 

 with the breath of their noiseless wings, leaving wounds 

 that become dreadful by reason of poisonous flies which 

 infest them. The wild cattle are far more numerous than 

 the horses, and are mostly owned by herdsmen, whose 

 mark they bear. At certain seasons a grand hunt is or- 

 ganized, the cattle are gathered, and all unmarked ones 

 branded, when those not wanted are released to again 

 roam at freedom upon the savannas. The Uanero is as 

 little able to tell tlie number of his cattle, as he is to 

 bound the limits of his vast possessions. Humboldt esti- 

 mated that 1,200,000 cattle and 180,000 horses graze 

 upon the plains of Venezuela ; while there exist upon the 

 Pampas of Buenos Ayres 12,000,000 cattle and 3,000,000 

 horses. 



There are several species of scaly saurians, to v/hicli wo 



