II 
PLANARIA.Z 
29 
weather, as we approached the equator, had not destroyed all 
the individuals, there can be no doubt that this last step would 
have completed its structure. Although so well known an ex¬ 
periment, it was interesting to watch the gradual production of 
every essential organ, out of the simple extremity of another 
animal. It is extremely difficult to preserve these Planarise ; as 
soon as the cessation of life allows the ordinary laws of change 
to act, their entire bodies become soft and fluid, with a rapidity 
which I have never seen equalled. 
I first visited the forest in which these Planariae were found, 
in company with an old Portuguese priest who took me out to 
hunt with him. The sport consisted in turning into the cover 
a few dogs, and then patiently waiting to fire at any animal 
which might appear. We were accompanied by the son of a 
neighbouring farmer—a good specimen of a wild Brazilian youth. 
He was dressed in a tattered old shirt and trousers, and had his 
head uncovered : he carried an old-fashioned gun and a large 
knife. The habit of carrying the knife is universal ; and in 
traversing a thick wood it is almost necessary, on account of 
the creeping plants. The frequent occurrence of murder may be 
partly attributed to this habit. The Brazilians are so dexterous 
with the knife that they can throw it to some distance with pre¬ 
cision, and with sufficient force to cause a fatal wound. I have 
seen a number of little boys practising this art as a game of 
play, and from their skill in hitting an upright stick, they pro¬ 
mised well for more earnest attempts. My companion, the day 
before, had shot two large bearded monkeys. These animals 
have prehensile tails, the extremity of which, even after death, 
can support the whole weight of the body. One of them thus 
remained fast to a branch, and it was necessary to cut down a 
large tree to procure it. This was soon effected, and down 
came tree and monkey with an awful crash. Our day’s sport, 
besides the monkey, was confined to sundry small green parrots 
and a few toucans. I profited, however, by my acquaintance 
with the Portuguese padre, for on another occasion he gave me 
a fine specimen of the Yagouaroundi cat. 
Every one has heard of the beauty of the scenery near Boto- 
fogo. The house in which I lived was seated close beneath the 
well-known mountain of the Corcovado. It has been remarked, 
with much truth, that abruptly conical hills are characteristic of 
