I 



Ch. VIL SOUTH AMERICA. 55 



of a cinnamon colour but no large brufh on its tail. 

 The hair however is fpungy, and forms a bunch 

 proper for the above-mentioned method of defence. 



Nature, which has furniflied the fox with fuch 

 an effedtual defence, has not forgot the armadillo, the 

 name of which partly defcribes it. The fize of it is 

 about that of a common rabbit, though of a very dif- 

 ferent fhape ; the fnout, legs and tail, refembling thofe 

 of a pig. His whole body is covered with a ftrong 

 Ihell, which, anfwering exactly every where to the ir- 

 regularities of its ftrudure, prote6ls it from the infults 

 of other animals, without affedling its adivity. Be- 

 fides this, he has another, as a helmet, connected by a 

 joint to the former; this guards his head^ and thus he 

 is every way fafe. 



These fhells are variegated with feveral natural re- 

 lievos, as it were, in chiaro ofcuro^ fo that they are at 

 once his defence, and a beautiful ornament. The 

 Negroes and Indians, who eat its flefh, give a high 

 charadter of it. 



Among the monkies of this country, the moll com- 

 mon are the micos, which are alfo the fmalleft. They 

 are generally about the fize of a cat, of a browniOi 

 colour ; and too well known to need any further de- 

 fcription. The larger kind, which are lefs known, I 

 Ihall defcribe in another place. 



The birds feen in this hot climate are fo numerous, 

 that it is impoflible to give a diftindt reprefentation of 

 them ; particularly of the beauty and brilliancy of their 

 various plumage. The cries and croakings of fome, 

 mixed with the warblings of others, difturb the plea- 

 fure which would flow from the melody of the latter, 

 and render it impoffible to diftinguifh the different 

 cries of the former ; and yet in this inflance we may 

 obferve the wifdom of nature in diftributing her fa- 

 vours ; the plumage of thofe birds being the moll 

 ' beautiful, whofe croakings are the mod offenfive ; 

 while» on the other hand, thofe whofe appearance has 



E 4 nothing 



