S24 A V O Y AGE T O Book III. 



web, which covers them, and is of the fame form as 

 thofe of geefe, except that the talons at the end of 

 the toes are much longer, and project entirely out of 

 the web or membrane. Its fkin is covered with a 

 thin fcale adhering to it, which renders it rough and: 

 hard ^ and, from the crown of its head to the begin- 

 ning of its tail, which is generally about half a yard, 

 jruns a line of vertical fcales, each fcale being from 

 one to two lines in breadth, and three or four in length, 

 feparated fo as to reprefent a kind of faw. But from 

 the end of the neck to the root of the tail, the fcales 

 gradualiy lefien, fo as, at the latter part, to be fcarce 

 vifible. Its belly is, in largenefs, very difproportion- 

 able to its body ; and its teeth feparated, and very (harp 

 pointed. On the water it rather walks than fwims, 

 being fupported by the webs of its feet; and on that 

 element, its fwiftnefs is fuch, as to be out of fight in 

 an inftant ; whereas on the land, though far from 

 moving heavil}^ its celerity is greatly lefs. When 

 pregnant, its belly fwells to an enormous fize; and in- 

 deed they often lay fixty eggs at a time, each of which 

 is as large as thofe of a pigeon. Thefe are reckoned 

 a great dainty, not only at Panama, but in other parts, 

 where this creature is found. Thefe eggs are all in- 

 clofed in a long, fine membrane, and form a kind of 

 ilring. The flefn of this animal is exceedingly white, 

 and univerfally admired by all ranks. I tailed both 

 the flcfli and the eggs, but the latter are vifcid in the 

 niouth, and of a very difagreeable tafte : when drefled,. 

 their colour is the fame with that of the yolk of a 

 hen's egg. The taile of the fiefh is fomething better; 

 but, thoiip h fweet, has a naufeous fmelL The inhabi- 

 tants, however, compared it to that ofehicken ; though, 

 for my part, I could not perceive the lead fimilarity *. 



Thefe 



The {\<c:Pa of the gunr.a is whiter than chicken, and more 

 ple^ifing to moft palates, except as to the drynef^ of it. The coni- 

 iiion lauce ic it :3 lime juice, ieaiCRe^i with Chian pepper, whic|i 

 7 , - faiice 



