ANIMALS OF SOUTH AMERICA. 103 



from bough to bough, and large bodies of ants, issuing 

 from their nests, creep along the ground. These immense 

 forests are rich in timber of every description, for use and 

 ornament, suited either for carpentry, ship building, dye- 

 ing, or furniture. That kind specially called Brazil wood 

 is particularly celebrated for the beautiful red dye which 

 it produces. 



Our guide informed us that the forests were full of ra- 

 pacious animals, among which he mentioned the tiger-cat, 

 the hyona, the saratu, an animal about the size of a fox, 

 but far more ferocious, the jaguar or South American 

 tiger, the sloth, and the porcupine ; that the planters 

 were much annoyed by ounces ; that antas, or tapirs, and 

 wild hogs, were abundant. The tapir is the largest of 

 the native quadrupeds. It is timid and harmless, feeding 

 like a horse. It is amphibious, and capable of remaining 

 a long time at the bottom of lakes and rivers, without 

 coming up to respire. When killed, its flesh is generally 

 eaten, and differs but little from the ox. 



We had not long journeyed through the forest, before 

 the keen eye of the guide detected a huge tapir, feeding 

 at a considerable distance on our right. He said that if 

 we would get between it and the river, the course of which 

 we were following, it might easily be taken. We dis- 

 mounted, tied our horses to trees, and crept in different 

 directions towards the stream. Mr. Barrill happened to 



