484 The Andes and the Amazons. 



Wallace), I have never been bitten or stung by scorpion, 

 spider, or centipede." 



INSECT plagues. 



But tlie most numerous and most dreaded of all animals 

 on the Middle Amazons are the Insects. Nearly all kinds 

 of articulate life here have either stiug or bite. The strong 

 trade-wind keeps the Lower Amazons clear of the winged 

 pests ; but soon after leaving Manaos, and especially on the 

 Maranon in the rainy season, the traveler becomes inti- 

 mately acquainted with lialf a dozen insects of torture : (1) 

 The sanguinary Mosquito (so called in English America), 

 the Carapana of Brazilians, and Zancudo of Spanish Amer- 

 icans. The Ticuua Indians give it the very expressive 

 name of Ah !* There are several species, most of them 

 working at night ; but one black fellow with white feet is 

 diurnal. They are most numerous in damp weather. Dr. 

 Spruce experimented upon himself, and found that he lost, 

 by letting the blood -letters have their own way, three 

 ounces of blood per day. Great is the joy of their tiny 

 souls when a fresh traveler comes along. The ceaseless 

 irritation of these ubiquitous creatures makes life almost 

 intolerable. The great Cortez, after all his victories, could 

 not forget his struggles with these despicable enemies he 

 could not conquer. Scorpions with cocked tails, spiders 

 six inches in diameter, and centipedes running on all doz- 

 ens, are not half so bad as a cloud of mosquitoes. I have 

 yet to find the man who can see any useful or ornamental 

 purpose in their creation. (2) The Piiim, or Sand-fly, a 

 species of Tromhidium called Mosquito in Peru. It is 

 a minute, dark-colored dipter with two triangular horny 



* The Indians have a special name for every strikingly good or evil animal 

 or plant. Thus, the Tiipi has fifteen words for as many species of Bees. Ob- 

 jects, however, not attractive in any sense are expressed under one general 



