96 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



The Whipsnake, of a iDeaiitiful changing green, and the 

 Coral, with alternate broad transverse bars of black and 

 red, glide from bush to bush, and may be handled with 

 safety; they are harmless little creatures. 



The Labarri snake is speckled, of a dirty brown colour, 

 and can scarcely be distinguished from the ground or stump 

 on which he is coiled up ; he grows to the length of about 

 eight feet, and his bite often proves fatal in a few minutes. 



Unrivalled in his display of every lovely colour of the 

 rainbow, and unmatched in the effects of his deadly poison, 

 the Couanacouchi glides undaunted on, sole monarch of 

 these forests ; he is commonly known by the name of the 

 bush-master. Both man and beast fly before him, and 

 allow him to pursue an undisputed path. He sometimes 

 grows to the length of fourteen feet. 



A few small Caimen, from two to twelve feet long, may 

 be observed now and then in passing up and down the 

 river; they just keep their heads above the water, and a 

 stranger would not know them from a rotten stump. 



Lizards of the finest gi'een, brown, and copper colour, 

 from two inches to two feet and a half long, are ever and 

 anon rustling among the fallen leaves, and crossing the 

 path before you ; whilst the Chameleon is busily employed 

 in chasing insects round the trunks of the neighbouring 

 trees. 



The fish are of many different sorts, and well-tasted, but 

 not, generally speaking, very plentiful. It is probable that 

 their numbers are considerably thinned by the Otters, 

 which are much larger than those of Europe. In going 

 through the overflowed savannas, which have all a com- 

 munication with the river, you may often see a dozen or 

 two of them sporting amongst the sedges before you. 



This warm and humid climate seems particularly adapted 

 to the producing of insects ; it gives birth to myriads, 



