THE SAPUCAIA NUT. 



53 



we receive from Brazil is^ as before stated^ not less than 

 50,000 bushels. The Para nnt is one of the most whole- 

 some of all the hard-shelled fruits, and contains a fine sweet 

 oil, which is often expressed and used by watchmakers, and 

 artists in oil-colours. 



Closely allied to the Para nut, is 



The Sapucaia Nut. LecytJiis ollaria, or Pot-plant. 

 (Nat. Ord. LecjjtUdacecE) (Plate VI. fig. 26.) 



This curious nut is very superior to the last ; its flavour is 

 finer, and it is more digestible; but unfortunately these 

 good qualities are as well known to the monkeys, wliich 

 abound in the Brazilian forests^ as to ourselves ; the conse- 

 quence is, that instead of pelting the castanheiros with them, 

 they eat them^ and we get but very few. The trees grow in 

 the same localities as the Bertholetias, but the capsule is 

 rather different : instead of being pyriform, or pear-shaped, 

 it is urn- shaped, — hence its name of Pot-plant, — opening 

 by a sort of lid, which falls off, leaving a large opening suflB- 

 cient for the nuts to fall out. So eager are the monkeys to 

 obtain the nuts, that they will thrust their hand into this 

 opening, which they do with difficulty, and grasp the nuts ; 

 but the orifice which admitted the empty hand will not 

 allow the egress of a full one, and the animal will torment 



