162 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



which is full of green-speckled eggs. Alarmed by 

 this noise, or by passing travellers, numerous fa- 

 milies of little pigeons (Rolas) *, often no bigger 

 than a sparrow, fly from bush to bush ; the larger 

 pigeons (Amarzoga and Troquase)\, seeking singly 

 among the bushes for food, hasten alarmed to the 

 summits of the neighbouring wood, where their 

 brilliant plumage shines in the sun ; numerous 

 flocks of little monkeys t run whisthng and hissing 

 to the recesses of the forest; the cavies §, running 

 about on the tops of the mountains, hastily secrete 

 themselves under loose stones ; the American os- 

 triches (Emas) II, which herd in families, gallop at 

 the slightest noise, like horses through the bushes, 

 and over hills and valleys, accompanied by their 

 young; the dicholopus (Siriemas)% which pursues 

 serpents, flies, sometimes sinking into the grass, - 

 sometimes rising into the trees, or rapidly climb- 

 ing the summits of the hills, where it sends forth 

 its loud deceitful cry, resembling that of the 

 bustard; the terrified armadillo (Tatu Canastra, 

 Peba, Bola)** runs fearfully about to look for a 

 hiding place, or, when the danger presses, sinks 

 into its armour; the ant-eater (Tamandud, Bandeira, 



* Columba passerina, minuta Lath., squamosa Tern. 



\ C. frontalis Tern., leucoptera, &c. 



X Jacchus penicillatus. (Spix, Sim. Bras, tab.xxvi.) 



§ Cavia rupestris. 



II Rhea americana. 



^ Dicholopus cristatus, HofF. 



** Dasypus giganteus, septemcinctus, tricinctus. 



