674 



To the east of the island is the mouth of the 

 Cano de la Tortuga, which descends from the 

 mountains of Cerbatana, continually wrapped in 

 electric clouds. On the southern bank of the 

 Cano, between the tributary streams Parapa- 

 ra and Oche, lies the almost ruined mission of 

 San Miguel de la Tortuga. The Indians assur- 

 ed us, that the environs of this little mission 

 abound in otters with a very fine fur, called by 

 the Por*ugueze water dogs* ; and, what is still 

 more remarkable, in lizards (lagartos) with two 

 feet. The whole of this country, very accessible 

 between the Rio Cuchivero and the strait of 

 Baraguan, is worthy of being visited by a well- 

 informed zoologist. The lagarto, destitute of 

 hinder extremities, is perhaps a species of syren, 

 different from the siren lacertina of Carolina. 

 If it were a saurien, a real bimanis (chirotes, 

 Cuv.), the natives would not have compared it 

 to a lizard. Beside the arau turtles, of which I 

 have given above-f- a detailed account, an innu- 

 merable quantity of land tortoises also, called 

 morocoi, are found on the banks of the Oroono- 

 ko, between Uruana and Encaramada. During 



the mouth of the Meta 5 and, to improve the geography of 

 the Oroonoko, I recommend to travellers furnished with accu- 

 rate instruments, to ascertain the latitude of la Boca de Meta, 

 Carichana, and Encaramada. 



* Perritos deagua ; in JVlaypure nevi. 

 f Vol. iv, p. 475-495. 



