. The Andes and the Amazon :|bor across the continent of South America. on opinion that the sloth is the type of laziness. Thecapybara or ronsoco, the largest of living rodents, is quite common on the riverside. It is gregariousand amphibious,^ andresembles a mammothguinea-pig. Pacas andagoutis are most abun-capybara. dant In the lowlands. and are nocturnal. These semi-hoofed rodents, like theToxodon of old, approach the Pachyderms. The tapir, orgran-bestia, as it is called, is a characteristic quadruped ofSouth America. It is a clumsy-looking animal, with atough hide of an iron-gray color, co
. The Andes and the Amazon :|bor across the continent of South America. on opinion that the sloth is the type of laziness. Thecapybara or ronsoco, the largest of living rodents, is quite common on the riverside. It is gregariousand amphibious,^ andresembles a mammothguinea-pig. Pacas andagoutis are most abun-capybara. dant In the lowlands. and are nocturnal. These semi-hoofed rodents, like theToxodon of old, approach the Pachyderms. The tapir, orgran-bestia, as it is called, is a characteristic quadruped ofSouth America. It is a clumsy-looking animal, with atough hide of an iron-gray color, covered with a coat ofshort coarse hair. Its flesh is dry, but very palatable. Ithas a less powerful proboscis than the Malay species. distinguishes another species from the mountains,which more nearly resembles the Asiatic. The taj^ir, likethe condor, for an unknown reason, is not found north of8° N., though it wanders as far south as 40°. We met butone species of peccari, the white-lipped {D. labiatus). Itis much larger than the Mexican hog, and, too thick-. The Jaguae. 311 headed to understand danger, is a formidable raposa is seen only on the Middle Amazon, and veryrarely there. It has a long tapering muzzle, small ears,bushy tail, and grayish hair. It takes to the water, for theone we saw at Tabatinga was caught while crossing theAmazon. Fawn-colored pumas, sp»otted jaguars, black ti-gers, tiger-cats—all members of the graceful feline fami-ly—inhabit all parts of the valley, but are seldom seen. Thepuma (Suassu-ardna) is more common on the Pacific sideof the Andes. The jaguar* is the fiercest and most power-ful animal in South America. It is marked like the leopard—roses of black spots on a yellowish ground; but they are
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