A NATURALIST IN BRAZIL. z 
The land animals consist of lizards, of three or four spe- 
cies, which are considerably numerous. Insects are few, 
and the principal representative of the class is an immense 
hairy spider (Mygale), of a species very common-on the 
coast. This spider, which the Brazilians call Aranha caran- 
gueija, or crab-spider, has a body sometimes as big as an 
egg. It exists in countless numbers, living under stones. 
Almost every loose stone has one of these monsters under it. 
The bite from its long fangs is very painful and poisonous. 
It preys on lizards, and has been known to kill young chick- 
ens, and suck their juices. 
Sea-birds resort here by myriads, at certain seasons of the 
year, to breed. Among these there are several species of 
gulls, pilots, and the magnificent frigate-bird. To these 
birds and their habits we may, perhaps, by and by devote 
a special paper. 
It is in the waters of the vicinity, however, that the great- 
est riches of animal life are to be found. Fish, of an inered- 
ible number of species, are wonderfully abundant, and a 
regular fishery is carried on here from the town of Porto 
Seguro for a giant perch called the Garoupa, which fish is 
however cured so badly as to be scarcely eatable. 
In the month of May, a species of whale ( Megaptera) 
makes its appearance on this coast in considerable num- 
bers. It is furnished with whalebone, and has on the back 
a hump of fat which looks very much like a fin. Above, it 
is black in color; below, usually white, or light-colored, 
and marked by longitudinal furrows, which are especially 
conspicuous under the throat. Along the lower jaws there 
is a number of round lumps, or tubercular masses of fat, as 
large as one’s fist. The pectoral fins are long, narrow, and 
irregular along the edges. This whale grows to be thirty to 
forty feet in length. 
Among the first to make their appearance at the com- 
mencement of the season are large females gee 
bringing with them their little ones but just born. The 

