TROPICAL AMERICA. BRAZIL. 75 



account for the singular inequality of animal dispersion, 

 which we shall now proceed to notice. We do not, of 

 course, comprehend the mining provinces of Brazil in 

 the above sketch : they are more particularly mountain- 

 ous ; and must, therefore, be looked upon as an excep- 

 tion to the general features of the whole. 



(106.) The dispersion of animals is affected, in a 

 surprising degree, by the above variations in the face of 

 the country. As vegetation is most luxuriant towards 

 the coast, so is the number and variety of animals, on 

 the borders or in the recesses of the virgin forests, much 

 greater than in the interior. It is in these thick and 

 umbrageous retreats that the numerous tribes of monkeys 

 are alone found ; for their life is spent, not on the 

 ground, but in wandering through the boughs of inter- 

 minable forests, leaping from branch to branch, and 

 passing from one lofty tree to another by amazing 

 springs. In conformity with these habits, more espe- 

 cially characteristic of the American monkeys, we find 

 the greater part are furnished with' a prehensile tail, of 

 such strength and construction, as to fulfil the office of a 

 fifth hand. No such additional power for climbing has 

 been given to the monkeys of India, much less to those 

 of Africa ; in neither of which is this family so nu- 

 merous in species or individuals, or so strongly cha- 

 racterised by lofty forests. On turning to the birds, we 

 find the toucans (^Ramjihastidce), manakins {Pipra), 

 jacamars {Galbula), motmots (Prionites), trogons 

 {T'7-ogonida' Sw.), tree creepers {Dendrocolaptes, Cer- 

 thiadce), and several other groups, are more particularly 

 inhabitants of the virgin forests ; while the insects, im- 

 posing from their size or dazzling from their brilliancy, 

 are found in such incredible numbers, in the more open 

 parts, that the entomologist is frequently unable to 

 capture one half of those that come within his reach, 

 from the time consumed in securing his game. 



(107.) On passing from the deep forests, and entering 

 upon the Tabu/aras, or the more open inland tracts, 

 the naturalist finds himself in a new zoological region 



