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S6 VOYAGE OP THE POTOMAC, [Octobcr, 
globe ; and though they cannot, of course, claim the same in- 
trinsic value, they are infinitely more various, more beautiful to 
the eye, and of more real utility to the nation, than the glittering 
productions of boasted mines, — • 
" Let her the golden mine despise, 
For deep in earth it better hes, 
Than when, by hands profan'd, from nature's store, 
To human use compell'd, flames forth the sacred ore." 
Of natural productions in the animal kingdom, Brazil can 
doubtless boast her share, though of far less variety than is found 
on the opposite continent. Their horses are mostly brought from 
the south, descendants of the wild herds which roam in a state of 
unrestrained freedom over the extensive pampas or prairies of 
Argentine and Patagonia. The original stock, it is said, was 
brought from Europe, at an early period of the discovery, to- 
gether with that of the black cattle which now overrun the more 
southern regions of the continent. Among the wild animals, the 
largest is probably the tapir, or land hippopotamus ; but the most 
formidable is the jaguar, or South American tiger, which seldom, 
however, approaches the haunts of man. Sloths and wild dogs 
are numerous, besides several species of quadrupeds that burrow 
in the earth. Among the latter is the seven-handed, armadillo, a 
curious little animal, well known in all our museums, and other 
depositories of natural history ; having the snout of a pig, the tail 
of a lizard, and the feet of a hedgehog. He is armed with a coat 
of impenetrable scales, burrows in the earth during the daytime, 
and sometimes grows to the length of three feet. The Brazilians 
use it as an article of food, the flesh being white, tender, and well 
tasted. Bats are numerous, of a large size, and very sanguinary, 
The blood of cattle is their favourite food, on which, at night, 
they take the liberty to banquet, without invitation or license. 
Of the feathered tribe, Brazil can count great numbers, and 
many varieties. The great imperial condor of Peru is some- 
times seen descending on her plains, to prey upon the fragments 
of the jaguar's meal, or to bear away some living quadruped to 
his aerial retreat on the highest pinnacle of the Andes. The 
royal eagle, and the bandit vulture, make similar and more fre- 
quent incursions ; while fowls and birds of various descriptions 
