106 
TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. 
\January, 
flies and moths now made their appearance, and the 
skirts of the forest were covered with passion-flowers, 
convolvuluses, and many other flowers. Bees and wasps 
also began to abound, and several aquatic birds I had 
not before seen made their appearance. In January, 
Mr. C. and his family and some visitors arrived to spend 
a few weeks on the island, and the time passed more 
pleasantly. Several of the Negroes were sent hunting, 
and wild ducks of various species, deer, armadillos, and 
fish, with beef and mutton, gave us plenty for our table. 
Several jaguars were killed, as Mr. C. pays about eight 
shillings each for their skins : one day we had some 
steaks at the table, and found the meat very white, and 
without any bad taste. 
It appears evident to me that the common idea of the 
food of an animal determining the quality of its meat 
is quite erroneous. Domestic poultry and pigs are the 
most unclean animals in their food, yet their flesh is most 
highly esteemed, while rats and squirrels, which eat only 
vegetable food, are in general disrepute. Carnivorous 
fish are not less delicate eating than herbivorous ones, 
and there appears no reason why some carnivorous ani- 
'-t 
mals should not furnish wholesome and palatable food. 
Venison, so highly esteemed at home, is here the most 
dry and tasteless meat that can be had, as it must be 
cooked within twelve hours after it is killed. 
A good deal more rain now fell, and small pools were 
formed in some parts of the campos. About these, 
plovers and other birds were to be seen wading, and a 
small flock of the elegant long-legged plover {Himanto- 
pus). After much difficulty I succeeded in killing three 
I 
