DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 77 
great stretches of sword grass (Vipheagrostis floridula) in which it 
hides. These animals often make raids upon the garden patches of the 
natives, sometimes coming down into the palace garden at night and 
eating the melons and other succulent vegetables cultivated there. 
During the rutting season the honking cries of the fighting bucks are 
heard at night, especially when the moon is full. 
DomESTIC ANIMALS. -—Butfalo, cattle, horses, mules, pigs, goats, cats, 
and dogs have been introduced. The butfalo (Budalus buffelus LL.) are 
used for carrying burdens, drawing carts, and for plowing rice, just 
as in the Philippines. Their flesh is seldom eaten in Guam and their 
milk, which is of excellent quality and in some countries is an impor- 
tant food staple, is never used. They are very strong animals, but 
awkward and more difficult to manage than oxen. It is a common 
sight in Guam to see a small boy riding a buffalo bull. As the huge, 
ungainly, great-horned animal goes valloping along the road it sug- 
gests some monster of prehistoric times. Buffalo can not endure long 
periods of drought. They love to wallow in swamps and, if hot and 
dry, will sometimes lie down with their riders when crossing a marsh. 
Many of the Guam cattle bear a general resemblance to Jerseys in 
size and color, though their udders are much smaller. Both bulls and 
cows are used as steeds and for drawing carts. A foreigner is. espe- 
cially struck with the speed developed by some of these animals. It 
is a common sight to see a dainty smooth-skinned cow saddled and hal- 
tered trotting along as swiftly as a horse, with her calf galloping at 
her side. With the exception of a few herds of cattle and buffalo in 
the interior of the island, all animals in domestic use are kept tethered, 
to keep them away from the unfenced garden patches and cornfields 
of the natives. They are subject to the attacks of wood ticks (Acarina), 
so that they must be frequently examined. The natives rub their 
skins and curry them like horses. Sometimes a neglected animal dies 
in consequence of the attacks of these pests. 
Horses do not multiply on the island. Colts are born but do not 
thrive. Goats are not plentiful. Wild hogs roam the forests in the 
northern part of the island. They live on fallen wild breadfruit and 
various roots. It is interesting to note that they eat the exceedingly 
acrid rootstocks of the great Alocasia which grows wild in the forests 
(see p. 70). Hogs kept on ranches and fed on coconuts, breadfruit, 
and other vegetable substances are prized for food. The excellent 
flavor of the Guam pork was much praised by early navigators (see 
pp. 18 and 20). Dogs are pests in the villages. They are not well 
cared for, as a rule, and get their living by foraging. Cats have gone 
wild, and sometimes destroy the eggs of sitting hens and catch young 
chiekens and turkeys. Dogs and cats are fed upon coconuts when 
other food is not available. 
