s saw were the
"guaribas," nearly black in colour, but with their hands covered with
yellow hair, whence their name among the naturalists of "yellow-handed
howler" (_Stentor flavimanus_). They were seated in a ring when first
observed, and one--apparently the chief of the band--was haranguing the
rest; but so rapid were his articulations, and so changeable the tones
of his voice, that any one would have thought the whole party were
chattering together. This, in effect, did occur at intervals, and then
you might have heard them to the distance of more than a mile. These
creatures are enabled to produce this vast volume of voice in
consequence of a hollow bony structure at the root of the tongue, which
acts as a drum, and which gives them the appearance of a swelling, or
goitre, in the throat. This is common to all the howling monkeys as
well as the guaribas.

Besides the howlers there were other species--there were tamarins, and
ouistitis, and the black coaitas of the genus "ateles," all assembled
around the juvia-tree. There were parrots, and macaws, and other
nut-eating birds. High above in the air soared the great eagle watching
his opportunity to swoop down on the pacas or agoutis, his natural prey.
It was altogether a singular assemblage of wild animals--a zoological
garden of the wilderness.

Our party, concealed by bushes, looked on for some time. They noticed
that not one of all the living things was _under_ the tree. On the
contrary, they formed--monkeys, cavies, parrots, and all--a sort of ring
around it, but at such a distance that none of the brandies were above
them! Why was this? Guapo knew the reason well, and before leaving
their place of observation the others had an explanation of it.

While they stood gazing one of the great globes was seen to fall from
the tree above. The loud report as it struck the earth could have been
heard a long way off. It caused the whole assemblage of living
creatures to start. The macaws flapped their wings, the monkeys ran
outward and then stopped, and a simultaneous cry from the voices of both
birds and beasts echoed on all sides; and then there was a general
chattering and screaming, as though the fall of the great pericarp had
given pleasure to all parties.

It was very evident from this circumstance why both beasts and birds
kept so far out from the tree. One of these fruits coming down like a
nine-pound shot would have crushed any of them to atoms. I