and America, was originally from this country
and is still found wild in various parts.

All the rivers are filled with crocodiles, called
by some travellers caymans; they are generally
25 feet long, according to Cavazzi; there are
some also which never enter the water, but hunt
fowls, sheep, and she-goats. In another place,
however, he states, that there are lizards which
differ very little from crocodiles. Cameleons are
found in great numbers, and are considered very
venomous. The flying lizard, or palm-rat, a pret-
ty little animal, is an object of religious worship ;
the rich preserve it with great care, aud exhibit
it to the adoration of the people, who offer it pre-
sents. Frogs and toads are of an enormous size.

Monstrous serpents infest these inhospitable
countries. The boa, or borna, in length from 25
to 30 feet, and 5 in thickness, darts from trees
upon men and animals, swallowing them at once,
and in its turn becomes a prey to the negroes, who
attack it during its digestion, or burn it by setting
fire to the woodf at the termination of the rains.
It wages an interminable war against the croco-
diles, The bite pf another species of serpent is
mortal within 24'hours. Travellers who are fond
of the marvellous, represent it as blind, and de-
scribe it with 2 heads; they mean the amphisbcena.

The mamba, as thick as a man's thigh, is 20
feet long, and very nimble. It instinctively
chases the n’dambn, and devours it whole and
alive. This last is only an ell long, with a wide
and flat head like the viper, and the skin beauti-
fully spotted ; its poison is very subtle. The
n'bambi, is one of the most venomous; is with
difficulty distinguished from the trees themselves,
the trunks of which it entwines, lying in wait for
its prey. It is reported that the touch only ofthe
lenta, a variegated viper, is followed by death, but
that the bite of the animal is its antidote. The
country swarms with scorpions and centipedes ;
the former often creep inio houses and books.

The fleas, bugs, and flies of Europe, are not
tound in Guinea; there are, however, gnats and
moschetoes in abundance, which form one of the
plagues of the country. The sting of the banzo,
of the same size as our gadfly is said to be mortal.
Different species of very formidable ants infest
both men and animals. Malefactors, who are
sometimes bound and exposed to them, are con-
sumed to the bones in one day. The insondi or
insongongi, enter the trunk of elephants, and
cause them to die in extreme madness. The sting
of the inzeni, which are a black and very large
species, produces violent pains for some hours.
The salale (ants,) small, round, red, and white,
are the most dangerous; they insinuate them-
selves every where, and destroy linen, merchan-
dise, furniture, and even houses, the wood work
of which they hollow out, leaving nothing but an
external shell. According to Grandpre, they
have the instinct to fill up with clay the stakes
which support the houses, to prevent their fall.
Fire alone, and marble, can resist their devouring
teeth; but furniture may be secured by placing
the feet in pans of water.

In a country so infested with noisome and de-
structive insects, it is pleasant to know that one,
at least, of considerable utility exists ; it is a sea-
rabaeus, of the size of a cockchafer, which con-
tributes essentially to the salubrity of the atmos-
phere, by making deep holes, and burying in
them all impure and corruptible matters under
ground; it is the more valuable in consequence
of its wonderful fecundity. Numberless swarms
of bees wander in the forests, occupying the
hollows of trees,xe2x80x94and it is only necessary to drive
them away by lighting fires under them, and
thus take their honey. Grasshoppers are esteemed
as food by the natives, and are not despised even
by Europeans.

The ostrich and peacock are esteemed by the
negroes. In Angola, the king has reserved the
sole privilege of keeping peacocks. There are
both brown and red partridges, which have the
peculiarity of perching upon trees. The quail,
pheasant, thrush, the widow and cardinal birds
are found in abundance. The cuckoo differs
from ours in its note. The Citculus indicator,
found in every part ofthe torrid zone, here bears
the name of sengo. The parrot varies much as to
size, colour, and voice. Very different from those
we see in cages ; strong, nimble, and bold, they
fly with great rapidity, and are very formidable
to other birds, which they attack, and lacerate
most unmercifully in the combat.

The different species of the turtle doves,
pigeons, fowls, ducks, and geese of this country
are not well distinguished. The idle disposition
of the natives has never thought of profiting by
the use of the eggs of fowls in domestic economy.
The hen, left to herself, deposits her eggs where
she pleases, and runs undisturbed about the fields
with her chickens in search of food. Among the
fisher birds, is the pelican, the puffin, and gull*
of every variety. The skin of the pelican, ap
plied to the stomach, is said to restore its vigour.

It is astonishing to behold the immense num-
ber of eagles, vultures, falcons, hawke, and other
birds of prey, which hover over the woods when
set on fire by the negroes, and snatch from the
midst of the flames quadrupeds and serpents half
roasted. According to the report of travellers,
who have given a very superficial account of
birds, theinumberof owls, screech owls, and bats,
is also considerable.

Among the quadrupeds, the hippopotamus af-
fords the negroes an agreeable dish; which, on
meagre days, is not unacceptable to Europeans.

The wild boar (engalli,) of which there are sev-
eral varieties, is a scourge to the country. Tho
hog, introduced by the Portuguese, is less remark-
able for its size than for the goodness of its flesh.
The blacks rear a few guinea-pigs. Though
originally a native of hot climates, this animal
lives and breeds in temperate and cold countries.
Its skin is of little value, and the flesh although
sometimes eaten, is indifferent food. They are
so cleanly that much of their time is spent in lick-
ing and smoothing each other’s fur. They feed
on all sorts of herbs, especially on parsley, which