Identifier: andesamazonborac76orto ( find matches)
Title: The Andes and the Amazon :;bor across the continent of South America
Year: 1876 ( 1870s)
Authors: Orton, James
Subjects:
Publisher: New York: Harper
Contributing Library: Natural History Museum Library, London
Digitizing Sponsor: Natural History Museum Library, London

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p, the normal size, as well as number, being reducedby the wholesale slaughter. So the rage for the skins ofbirds, deer, and tigeis has, in many localities, driven thesurvivors into the depths of the forest. Nevertheless,there is an immense variety of life within the valley.The Maranon is a richer field, at least for commercialpurposes, than the Amazons below. Monkey-meat can not be recommended, as it borders oncannibalism; but many a traveler has been driven to it.The Lower Amazonians esteem the white-whiskered Coaita,one of the thumbless Spider-monkeys, which has been de-scribed as four legs and a tail tied in a knot in the mid-dle. The Maquisapa (Ateles ater) is also considered goodeating. The Tapir, called Anta, Danta, Gran Bestia, andYaca del Monte, is hunted by the Indians; but theflesh is rather dry. This is the proboscidian of the NewWorld, and the largest indigenous animal in South Amer-ica. When full grown it weighs over 500 pounds. Ithas a thick, tough hide, and swims well.
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Game on the Amazons. 477 Of Deer (Veuados orSuassu) there are severalspecies, all hunted for their skins and meat. Peccaries,the swine of the country, exist in vast herds up the tribu-taries. The flesh is excellent, if the gland is removed intime. They are pugnacious fellows; and as nothing willfrighten them, they become formidable antagonists. Thesmall kind is called Samo; the large, Huangano.In Peru the common name is Chancho. Armadillo, in Quichua Carachupa, runs slowly, but isa mighty digger, getting under ground with astonishingrapidity. If cornered, it rolls itself up like a hedgehog.The flesh is highly prized, being sweet and tender. It isusually roasted in the shell. The little Paca, of a browncolor with white spots, swims and dives; the flesh resem-bles young pork. The gigantic rodent, the Capybara, or Eonsaco, makes passable meat. The animal is said tobe capable of domestication. The Manatee, the Peixeboi of the Lower Amazons, and Vaca Marina of theUpper, is sought for its o

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