Zoology of Panama. 3315 



fish, and the manati or sea-cow (Trichechus Manatus, Linn.), one of 

 the herbivorous Cetacea or whale tribe, occurs on the coast of the 

 Atlantic. It was well known to the buccaneers, who, in times of 

 scarcity, were compelled to feed on it. The "Animal estranna," men- 

 tioned by Herrera in his * Historia General, 7 is the same. The flesh 

 is said to bear the appearance of beef, with the taste of pork, and the 

 skin of the back, says an old author, is two fingers thick, and when 

 dried becomes as hard as whalebone, and may serve to make walk- 

 ing-sticks. 



Birds exist in great numbers. The humming-birds, macaws, and 

 parrots are distinguished for the beauty and brilliancy of their plu- 

 mage, wood-pigeons and turkeys for the delicacy of their flesh, while 

 the Gallinazos (Discolophus cristatus), pelicans, and others, attract 

 attention by their singular features and habits. 



Reptiles abound. The scales of the turtle are an article of com- 

 merce. At the time of the discovery of the country, the Spaniards 

 evinced a great repugnance for the iguanas [Lacerta Iguana, Linn.), 

 and expressed disgust at seeing the Indians eat them. This feeling is 

 now overcome, and the eggs as well as the flesh of these animals are 

 considered as delicacies. It is not the only instance in which such a 

 change has been effected. The use of tobacco, another Indian prac- 

 tice, was equally disliked; now no people indulge more in it than the 

 Spaniards and their descendants. Alligators are numerous at the 

 mouths of rivers, where they are found sunning themselves upon the 

 muddy banks. It is amusing to see how motionless they are lying, 

 listening to any noise, blinking with their great eyes ; and directly a 

 person is approaching, jumping into the water. Some of these ani- 

 mals are from 14 to 16 feet long. Their eagerness to attack man has 

 often been stated, but there is reason to believe that they are cowards, 

 like most animals belonging to the lizard tribe. I have only heard of 

 a single instance of a person having been bitten, and that happened 

 during the night, when he was wading through a rivulet. In the Rio 

 Grande de Panama, children may be seen bathing while alligators are 

 swarming around them. If the alligators were as rapacious as they 

 are represented, such exposures would undoubtedly be avoided. 



Both land and sea snakes occur ; the former are sometimes 18 feet 

 long. The coral snake (zonated scarlet and black), the Vivora (varie- 

 gated black and brown), and the Voladora, or flying snake (of a lively 

 green colour), are considered the most venomous. The Voladora 

 lives in trees, darting with rapidity from branch to branch, which, 

 having the appearance of flying, has given rise to the vernacular name. 



