a60 TIMEHRI. 
—_—_ 
and lightning of his gun. The enomous snake may live . 
coiled among the bushes, or traces of the savage jaguar 
may be seen upon the path.” a 
Every one that knows the forest also knows that 
snakes and jaguars are very difficult to find. In all ourex- 
periences the nearest approach to seeing one of the latter, 
was his footprints on the Mourie and the remains of a 
bush-hog which had formed his dinner. As for snakes, they — 
are so sluggish generally, or if active, get away so quick, — 
that only a very quiet observer such as the hunter or 
naturalist can see them at all except by accident. — 
Travellers speak of alligators as if they were not only — 
common but also dangerous, and here again experience 
contradiéts them. They may be common enough, for 
example in some estates’ canals, but the little children are | 
not afraid to bathe in, much less to fetch water from, such — 
places. Children, and even grown up men and women, ~ 
impregnated with fear of dangers that are non-existent, 
are very troublesome, their fright often causing much — 
pain and spoiling their pleasure ; it is therefore highly 
desirable that our school books should be free from — 
such misrepresentations for this reason if for no — 
other. Let there rather be a lesson on the dangers — 
of the streets, which are getting mare serious every 
day. a 
——--~»>--—- —- 
Epic poem on Guiana.—Mr. DAvis has given (ante 
p- 12a) a few lines from CHAPMAN'S *‘ De Guiana | 
Carmen Epicum”’ ; but there are other portions also worth E 
quoting at the present time, especially the follow- 
ing i— 
