130, Scientific Intelligence. 
? 
to a particularly and differently modified pleurapophysis, which equally 
required to have its own specific name. 
Professor Owen dwelt on the necessity of having clearly-defined 
terms for distinct ideas, in order to ensure the progress of science ; 
and alluded to the advancement of human anatomy by accurate de- 
terminations of the general type, of which man’s frame was a mod- 
made during my travels, and to we owe the most valuable re- 
searches on the history and statistics of Goyaz, says, in speaking of 
the lake of Padre Aranda, situated in this vast province, that it is inhab- 
ited by minhocées ; then he adds that these monsters—it is thus he ex- 
presses himself—dwell in the deepest parts of the lake, and have often 
drawn horses and horned cattle under the water. The industrious 
Pizarro, who is so well acquainted with all that relates to Brazil, men- 
tions nearly the same thing, and points out the lake Feia, which is like- 
wise situated in Goyaz, as also being inhabited by minhocées. 
I had already heard of these animals several times, and I considered 
them as fabulous, when the disappearance of horses, mules and cattle, 
in fording the rivers, was certified by so many persons, that it became 
impossible for me altogether to doubt it. 
was at the Rio dos Pilées, I also heard much of the minbo- 
cées; I was told that there were some in this river, and that at the pe- 
riod when the waters had risen, they bad often dragged in horses and 
mules whilst swimming across the river. 
The word minhocdo is an augmentative of minhoca, which in Portu- 
guese signifies earth-worm; and indeed they state that the monster In 
question absolutely resembles these worms, with this difference, that it 
has a visible mouth ; they also add, that it is black, short, and of enor- 
mous size ; that it does not rise to the surface of the water, but that it 
causes animals to disappear by seizing them by the belly. 
_ When, about twenty days after, having left the village and the river 
of Pilées, I was staying with the Governor of Meiapont, M. Joaquim 
Alvez de Oliveira, | asked him about these minhocées: he confirmed 
what I had already been told, mentioned several recent accidents caused 
by these animals, and assured me at the same time, from the report of 
several fishermen, that the minhocdo, notwithstanding its very round 
form, was a true fish provided with fins. 
_ Lat first thought that the minhocao might be the Gymnotus carapé, 
which according to Pohl is found in the Rio Vermelho, which is near 
to the Rio dos Pilées ; but it appears from the Austrian writer that this 
