The Guaracao is a species of large and wild dog, which does not confound or mix itself with any other of its kind.
The Guaraxaim is also a species of dog, about the size of a cat, and lives in subterraneous caverns, or burrows, which it forms expressly for its habitation. Every thing that it meets with in the campo, (field,) although not eatable, such as a hat or a handkerchief, it will drag to the door of its dwelling.
The Guaxinim is a species of fox, with a short and thick snout, feet rather long and open, and the breast large or full. It abounds most in the vicinity of the sea, and descends to the beach to procure crab-fish.
The Hirara, in some provinces called Papamel, has the appearance of a monkey seen at a distance. It is three spans in length, sharp snouted, with short legs, and a long tail; of a dark colour, with an ash coloured head; but it does not retain these colours in all the provinces.
The Iaguane is a species of small dog, marked with straight lines.
The Jaraticaca, or Cangamba, as it is called in some provinces, and which some consider of a species of pole-cat, resembles the squash of North America, and is remarkable, not only for its beautiful figure, its white and black spots, and shaggy tail, but for its singular and invincible power of defence, which it uses with facility against every enemy. This animal, on being assaulted, and sometimes before, emits a portion of urine so extraordinarily loathsome that the aggressor thinks only of the mode of deliverance from it. The dogs rub their noses in the earth, and men are earnestly desirous to free themselves from their clothes, which retain the odious smell. Occasionally some are killed before they use this defence, or unexpectedly before they see their enemy, or at a distance when they do not anticipate the hunter. A naturalist, who dissected the Jaraticaca, found near the urinal vessel a small receptacle of water, totally distinct from that of the bladder, and was persuaded that the fetid matter proceeded from thence. The fat of this animal, applied externally, is a very powerful emollient, and the flesh is said to have a good flavour when not infected with the fetid water; the skin is used for pockets: it passes for the civet-cat.
The Lontra, or Otter, is an amphibious animal, much larger than that of Europe, equally voracious and gluttonous of fish. The hair is red, short, and thick, and the skin esteemed.
The Moco differs only from the Rabbit in having neither ears nor tail, and is only met with where there are rocks, in the cavities of which it forms its dwelling-place. It is easily domesticated, and then it becomes daring, and will ill-treat and even make the dogs fly. It is a mortal enemy to rats, even more destructive to them than the cat. It is naturally extremely turbulent and treacherous, but without sagacity to execute its evil designs, falling a prey to its own temerity. The life of this animal is generally short.
There are numerous species of the Monkey, distinguished only by the size and colour of the hair. Those called by the Brazilians Guaribas generally proceed in bands, and, for the most part, along the branches of trees, where the whole body make a noise that is heard two miles off. The Sahuins, some of which are the size of a rat, are handsome, and esteemed for the white plumes or tufts that grow out of the ears. Of those called Barbados, the male has a sort of cup, formed of bone, in the throat, which produces a loud and hoarse sound. Amongst others we may notice those that have no regular dwelling-places, and do not put their feet in water. They pass rivers, forming a chain by holding fast to each other, but if they should happen to fall into the water they can swim like other quadrupeds. When they are on an excursion to rob the corn fields of maize, one is always stationed as centinel, in a proper place to discover the approach of the hunter. They have only one at a birth, which they carry upon the back with them for some days.
The Onca, or Ounce, is a species of immense cat, of terrible aspect, with a frightful yell, or roar. The largest is about twelve feet in length.