SOUTH AMERICA. 13 

 river; they just keep their heads above the water, and First 



Journey. 



a stranger would not Ivnow tliem from a rotten stump. 



Lizards of the finest green, bro^vn, and copper colour, Lizards, 

 from two inches to two feet and a half long, are ever and 

 anon rustling among the fallen leaves, and crossing the 

 path before you ; whilst the chameleon is busily employed 

 in chasing insects round the trunks of the neighbouring 

 trees. 



The fish are of many different sorts, and well-tasted, Fisii. 

 but not, generally speaking, very plentiful. It is pro- 

 bable that their numbers are considerably thinned by the 

 otters, which are much larger than those of Europe. In 

 going through the overflowed savannas, which have all 

 a communication with the river, you may often see a 

 dozen or two of them sporting amongst the sedges before 

 you. 



This warm and humid climate seems particularly adapted insects, 

 to the producing of insects ; it gives birth to myriads, 

 beautiful past description in their variety of tints, asto- 

 nishing in their form and size, and many of them noxious 

 in their qualities. 



He whose eye can distinguish the various beauties of 

 uncultivated nature, and whose ear is not shut to the 

 wild sounds in the woods, will be delighted in passing up 

 the river Demerara. Every now and then, the maam or 

 tinamou sends forth one long and plaintive whistle from 

 the depth of the forest, and then stops ; whilst the yelping 



