Besides the cobra grande , there are yet more fabulous animals in the Amazon, such as ... the Janaú or Janahúy, an animal which walks in groups through the forest, like a pack of dogs or small wolves, very dangerous and carnivorous, intoxicating its victims with a strong stench, allowing it to sate its verocity; the Tapira-yauara, meaning tapir-dog in Tupi, a gigantic animal which has the shape of a jaguar with the hooved paws of a tapir, with which it digs into the earth to fell the trees whose branches provide refuge for its enemies, who must flee. Note : The name janaú is used for procyonids such as the kinkajou and olingo.
With reference to this subject I think it may interest your correspondents to hear that the garramooloccwh (not garramooloch, as spelt in your issue of March 18th) is well known in parts of Wiltshire. I inherited one of these animals many years ago, and it has remained until recently a treasured household pet. Owing, however, to its unfortunate propensity for leaping in the air and chasing the air-planes which daily make their way from London to Bristol it has had to be destroyed.
I was much interested in the letter in your issue for March 4th from my friend Admiral Anstruther with regard to the animal, whether mammal, reptile, or fish, which he saw leap out of the sea to the height of forty or fifty feet. These amimals are well known to the inhabitants of the wilder parts of the coast of Connemara, Mayo and Donegal, and are known as Gorramoolochs. The inhabitants do not, however, often speak of them to visitors, whom they know to be incredulous. As the creatures leap principally by night they are not often seen. They can leap to a much greater height than that seen by your correspondent, and woe to the belated gannet upon which they once set their eye, even though it be flying at a height of 100 feet above the surface of the sea. They follow it like a sleuth hound, and when they get within striking distance launch themselves through the air and, gliding by the aid of their large wing-like fins and guided by the swinging of their tail, they strike it and bring i...
Comments
Post a Comment