MUMBOLDI’S MENAGERIE, 147

jaguar had remained motionless. JI arrived at the
boat out of breath and related my adventure to the
Indians, who loaded their firelocks and accom-
panied us to the place where the animal had lain.
He was there no longer, and it would have been
imprudent to follow him into the forest.”

Very curious is the account given by M. Hum-
boldt of the ambulatory menagerie which he car-
ried about with him during this part of his expe-
dition. ‘‘In one of the huts of the Pacimonales
(Indians) we made the acquisition of two large fine
birds, a toucan and an emu, a species of macaw,
seventeen inches long, having the whole body of a
purple colour. We had already in our canoe seven
parrots, two mannakins, a motmot, two guans, two
manaviris, and eight monkeys. Father Zea (a
Roman Catholic missionary, who accompanied the
travellers) whispered some complaints at the daily
augmentation of this collection! The toucan re-
sembles the raven in its manners and intelligence.
It is a courageous animal, but easily tamed. Its
long and stout beak serves to defend it at a dis-
tance. It makes itself master of the house, steals
whatever it can come at, and loves to bathe often
and fish on the banks of the river. The toucan we
had bought was very young; yet it took delight,
during the whole voyage, in teasing the nocturnal

monkeys, which are sad and passionate. This
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