326 TiMEHRI. 



made, though during the earlier part of the time I had 

 been placed hors-de-combat by an intensely painful boil 

 on the hand, and during the last five days' stay, I was 

 utterly prostrated by a severe attack of fever, accompa- 

 nied by peculiarly violent retching. 



Mammals were not abundant. Jaguars were said to 

 be common in the vicinity, and the tracks of the bush- 

 cow or maipurie (Tapirus americanus) , the bush or red 

 deer (Coassus rufusj, the labba (Ccelogenys paca) and 

 the great water-hare or capybara (Hydfochserus capy- 

 bara) were at times seen by the waterside ; but none of 

 of these animals were met with. Specimens were pro- 

 cured of the large quata or spider monkey (A teles 

 paniscus), of the squirrel (Sciurus asstuansj , and of the 

 aguti and adourie (Dasypro6la aguti and D. acuchi). 

 Blood-sucking bats seemed to be common along the river, 

 and, at several of the camping-places, one or two of the 

 men suffered from their visits. Otters (Pteronura sand- 

 bachii) occasionally gambolled about the lake, but were 

 extremely wary, though their feeding places were fre- 

 quently detefted. 



Birds were considerably more numerous, especially the 

 large game birds such as the powis (Crax aledorj^ the 

 maroodie (Penelope cristataj, the large maam (Tinamus 

 sub-cristatusj, the small maam (Crypturus variegatus) 

 etc., several of which were obtained, and whose flesh 

 afforded a welcome relief from the tinned meats. Two 

 large ducks were shot closely resembling the muscovy, 

 but with a white speckled breast and abdomen. The 

 great green-winged, blue and red macaw (Ara chloro- 

 ptera) was the common form seen, and three specimens 

 were shot, though from their high flight, they seldom gave 



