SOUTH AMERICA. 13 



is commonly known by the name of the bush- FIRST 



* J JOURNEY. 



master. Both man and beast fly before him, and - 

 allow him to pursue an undisputed path. He 

 sometimes grows to the length of fourteen feet. 



A few small caimen, from two to twelve feet 

 long, may be observed now and then in passing 

 up and down the river; they just keep their heads 

 above the water, and a stranger would not know 

 them from a rotten stump. 



Lizards of the finest green, brown, and copper Lizards. 

 colour, from two inches to two feet and a half 

 long, are ever and anon rustling among the fallen 

 leaves, and crossing the path before you ; whilst 

 the chameleon is busily employed in chasing in- 

 sects round the trunks of the neighbouring trees. 



The fish are of many different sorts, and well- Fish. 

 tasted, but not, generally speaking, very plentiful. 

 It is probable that their numbers are considerably 

 thinned by the otters, which are much larger than 

 those of Europe. In going through the overflowed 

 savannas, which have all a communication with 

 the river, you may often see a dozen or two of 

 them sporting amongst the sedges before you. 



This warm and humid climate seems particu- insects. 

 larly adapted to the producing of insects; it gives 

 birth to myriads, beautiful past description in their 

 variety of tints, astonishing in their form and size, 

 and many of them noxious in their qualities. 



He whose eye can distinguish the various 

 beauties of uncultivated nature, and whose ear 



