ccary (_Dicotyles_) and "danta" or tapir (_Tapirus_) have a wide
distribution throughout the lowland and lower plateau forests. The
Colombian tapir is known as the _Tapirus Roulini_, and is slightly
smaller than the Brazilian species (_T. americanus_). There are deer
in the forests and on the open savannahs, the rabbit and squirrel are
to be seen on the eastern slopes of the Andes, and partly amphibious
rodents, the "capybara" (_Hydrochoerus_) and "guagua" (_Coelogenys
subniger_), are very numerous along the wooded watercourses. The
sloth, armadillo, opossum, skunk and a species of fox complete the
list of the more common quadrupeds so far as known, though it is
certain that a careful biological survey would discover many others.
The large rivers of Colombia and the lakes of the lowlands are filled
with alligators, turtles, and fish, and several species of fish are
highly esteemed by the natives as food. The saurians are represented
on land by several species of lizard, some of them conspicuous for
their brilliant colouring, and by the large "iguana," whose flesh is
considered a great delicacy. Among the ophidians, which include many
harmless species, are the boa-constrictor, rattlesnake, the dreaded
_Lachesis_ and the coral snake. The "manatee" (_Manatus americanus_)
is found in the Atrato and other large Colombian rivers.

In bird and insect life Colombia is second only to Brazil. The condor,
which inhabits the higher Cordilleras, is peculiar to the whole Andean
region, and is the largest of the Raptores. Among other members of
this order are the eagle, osprey, vulture, buzzard, kite and hawk,
with about a dozen species in all. Parrots and paroquets are numerous
everywhere in the tropical and subtropical regions, as also the
gorgeously coloured macaw and awkward toucan. The largest class,
perhaps, is that formed by the astonishing number of water-fowl which
throng the shallow lagoons and river beaches at certain seasons of the
year. They are mostly migratory in habit, and are to be found in many
other countries. Among these are the large white crane and small
crane, the blue heron, the snowy-white egret, the roseate spoonbill
(_Platalea ajaja_), stork, bittern and many species of ducks. The
largest and most conspicuous member of this interesting family is the
_Mycteria americana_, the gigantic stork so frequently seen in the
Amazon valley, and even m