42 
TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. 
{July, 
out with Mr. Leavens, near the same place, we heard a 
similar sound, and it was soon evident that a whole troop 
of monkeys were approaching. We therefore hid our- 
selves under some trees, and, with guns cocked, waited 
their coming. Presently we caught a glimpse of them 
skipping about among the trees, leaping from branch to 
branch, and passing from one tree to another with the 
greatest ease. At last one approached too near for its 
safety. Mr. Leavens fired, and it fell, the rest making off 
with all possible speed. The poor little animal was not 
quite dead, and its cries, its innocent-looking counte- 
nance, and delicate little hands were quite childlike. 
Having often heard how good monkey was, I took it 
home, and had it cut up and fried for breakfast : there 
was about as much of it as a fowl, and the meat some- 
thing resembled rabbit, without any very peculiar or un- 
pleasant flavour. Another new dish was the Cotia or 
Agouti, a little animal, something between a guinea-pig 
and a hare, but with longer legs. It is abundant, and 
considered good eating, but the meat is rather dry and 
tasteless. 
One day we took the montaria and started to pay a 
visit to the Commandante at Larangeiras. The morning 
was beautiful; swallows and kingfishers flew before us, 
but the hQdiUiiivX y)avon {Eurypygia helias), which I most 
wanted, wisely kept out of the way. The banks of the 
igaripe were covered with a species of Inga, in flower, 
from which Mr. B. obtained some fine floral beetles. 
Among the roots of the mangroves numbers of calling 
crabs'’ were running about; their one large claw held 
up, as if beckoning, having a very grotesque appear- 
