252 POPULAR GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



These creatures are no cowards, and, when pursued, do 

 not decline to do battle. Dr. Gardner relates a formidable 

 encounter which he had with a large anteater (or ant-bear), 

 which was six feet long without the tail, the tail itself and 

 the long hair with which it was covered measuring four 

 feet more. Being pursued by Dr. Gardner with intent to 

 kill, and finding himself unceremoniously seized by his 

 long snout, he suddenly rose on his hind legs, and clasping 

 his antagonist with a bear-like hug, refused to loose his 

 hold till struck on the head with a stick by one of the 

 men who accompanied the expedition ; and though fre- 

 quently stunned by the blows he received, he as often got 

 up and ran off again, till at last Dr. Gardner despatched 

 him by a pistol-shot. 



It must not be imagined that because forests have been 

 less frequently spoken of since we started on our excur- 

 sion into the interior, than during the first part of our 

 journey in Brazil, that we have altogether taken leave of 

 them; on the contrary, though the undulating surface of 

 the country is comparatively open, it is in many parts richly 

 clothed with primeval forests, forming a striking contrast to 

 other large tracts which are covered with extensive plan- 

 tations of Indian-corn, and betoken the neighbourhood of 



