are found in the same climate; the poison of some is fatal in
a few minutes. The intertropieal country partakes in the
productions of New Guinea, and has likewise the bicarenated
crocodile of the Moluccas. Numerous lizards, and different
species of scinques and of agames abound in New Holland;
the most striking are the gigantic black and yellow scingue,
and those singular scindians the phyllari, having leaf-shaped
tails. There are likewise numerous serpents, some o f which
are well known to be extremely venomous. . The ehelonians,
the molluscae, the insects, the zoophytes , of Terra Australis,
present phenomena of singular form and organization which
are scarcely less remarkable. For a description of them I must
refer to the works of the excellent naturalist whom I have so
frequently cited.
Paragraph 2.—The equatorial and southern parts of America
constitute a vast region which might be subdivided into many
zoological provinces. The western part, including the Brazils,
is distinguished by peculiar and physical geographical features,
and limited by well-marked boundaries. The tropical and
the temperate countries lying westwardof the Cordilleras-might
be divided into two other provinces; and a fourth, <5f<■&very
distinct kind, and bearing much resemblance;to"Bditk Afpea^
is formed by the great plains of the Pampas. Tierra-del
Fuego; must be reckoned as a fifth district, and one of a' pan-
ticular description is the vast interior country, covered by
dense and lofty forests and intersected by the rivers Paraguay
and Uruguay. In several of these regions; peculiar
phenomena relating to the animal kingdoni might be traced
and examined, and it would perhaps be not difficult to distinguish
the zoological character of each department. But as
ceux qti’on y trouve. En premiere ligne sont, ce superbe menme dontlé queue est
l’image fidele dans les solitudes Australes de la lyre harmonieuse des Grecs ; ce lb-
riot prince-regent, dont la livrée est mi-partié de jeune d’or, et de noir de velours,
ces oiseaux satins, ces cassicans variés,-ces philedons nombreux, ce scytrops dont le
bec imite celui de toucan ; ce céréopsis cendré, ce casoar Austral, ce faucon d’un
blanc de niege, ces monieaux prebomgs, ces traquets superbes, ces perruches de
toute taüe, et de toute couleur, ces bruyants martin-chasseurs, ce moncherolle crepitant
dont le cri ftnite à s’y méprendre le claquement d’un fouet, et tant d’autres espèces
rares et précieuses, pour l’ornithologiste, et qu’il serait fastidieux de nommer.
peither zoology nor physical geography .constitutes the subject
of this work, I shall, confine myself to some very general
remarks on the whole region of South America.
' The-zoology of; South America has some features which
remind us of that peculiar to Terra Australis. It recedes
considerably from , the: character of the animal kingdom
proper to. Asia, and.perhaps, in a greater degree, from that of
Africa.*
It was ^observed, by the Count .de Buffon, th a t the .largest
quadrupeds are natives of the old world, and strangers in
America. “ Nature;” says this ingenipds and eloquent writer,
‘‘ seems, to have adopted a smaller SG.â’le in. the formation,, of
animals for the .new-world, and to have framed.man alone n
the same mould as- elsewhere.” Tó.Asi-a and Africa .belong
the various' species, of elephant, rhinoceros; .eind hippoppóta-
mus, and giraffe,, camels, horse, and most of thé oxs kindi
The fossil- remains of large animals have been, discounted in
America; but those'now-existing* are in general smaller than
the -tribes inhabiting the old world. .
It.ihay be observed, that th e races, or animals: which have
the. most powerful and perfect structure belông chiefly -to; the
old world.1 -Those of the new have, in general,' ar.character
of organization which places them lower in the scaleiof animated
b eiirgS',
Those carnivorous animals, for example, which bave», th é
greatest vigour and courage, are confined to Asia and Africa-».
The lions, tigers, hyænas, the fiercest of - the cat andvdbg:
kinds, alT such animals as are taken for symbbl® of^energy;
strength, and ferocity, are among them. The American bribes,
which approach the most neatly to the kinds above mentioned^
are in general much more gentle and feeble than the African,
and Asiatic species-. The swiftest and most agile quadrupeds,
as well as the most graceful and beautiful, chiefly belong to
the old continent ; and those, likewise, whichf a re : the most
* The zoological features of Paraguay are extensively described in thework of
Don Felix de A?ara, and that of the eastern region of South America in the great
work of Von ,§pix and Martius.