116 WANDERINGS IN 



SECOND little inequalities of the ground, and show you 



JOURNEY. f * 



how to pass on, unwounded, amid the mantling 



briars. 



snakes. Snakes, in these wilds, are certainly an annoy- 

 ance, though perhaps more in imagination than 

 reality; for you must recollect that the serpent 

 is never the first to offend : his poisonous fang 

 was not given him for conquest : he never inflicts 

 a wound with it, but to defend existence. Pro- 

 vided you walk cautiously, and do not absolutely 

 touch him, you may pass in safety close by him. 

 As he is often coiled up on the ground, and 

 amongst the branches of the trees above you, a 

 degree of circumspection is necessary, lest you 

 unwarily disturb him. 



Tigers. Tigers are too few, and too apt to fly before 

 the noble face of man, to require a moment of your 

 attention. 



insects. The bite of the most noxious of the insects, at 

 the very worst, only causes a transient fever, with 

 a degree of pain more or less. 



Birds. Birds in general, with a few exceptions, are not 



common in the very remote parts of the forest. 

 The sides of rivers, lakes, and creeks, the borders 

 of savannas, the old abandoned habitations of 

 Indians, and wood -cutters, seem to be their 

 favourite haunts. 



Humming- Though least in size, the glittering mantle of 

 the humming-bird entitles it to the first place in 

 the list of the birds of the new world. It may 



