or observed in the Republic of Honduras, &^'c. 21 



country as Honduras^ where the population is scanty, where 

 there are no roads besides mule-tracks^ and where the forests 

 are so dense and extensive, there may be any number of animals 

 living unseen, unless they happen to cross or be near the track 

 while the traveller is passing. Deer are not uncommon. 1 saw 

 two kinds : one was small, of a pale fawn-colour ; the other about 

 the size of the North American Deer {Cei-vus virginianus) , and of 

 a dark colour, like a Roe-deer in its winter coat. Armadillos 

 are abundant, but are rarely seen, as they lie underground in 

 the daytime, burrowing like rabbits. 



But although the passing traveller in Honduras does not see 

 much animal life, he will feel its influence, to his ample annoy- 

 ance. He will be bitten by fleas, lice, mosquitos, sand-flies, ants, 

 jiggers, ticks, and ayarrapatas. At Tigre, where we used to 

 say that everything bit, we could not enter the sea without 

 being attacked by small shrimp-like animals. Even the fishes 

 persecuted us. When bathing in a small stream near San Pedro, 

 hundreds of them, about the size of minnows, dashed at our legs, 

 and caused such an irritation as to drive us out of the water. 

 Standing on land, we sufi'ered from the bites of numberless mos- 

 quitos until our clothes were hurried on again. As for the 

 ants, their name is legion. I do not know whether they should 

 be called buccaneers or filibusters ; but they appropriate every 

 thing they can get at, and locate themselves everywhere. They 

 are wonderfully industrious in carrying out their predatory views, 

 and display a great contrast to the inhabitants of Honduras, 

 who do not know what industry means, and abhor continuous 

 labour. There are two colours of ants — black and red — and 

 a great variety of sizes. Some of the large black ones are half 

 an inch long. Those in the houses are generally of the smaller 

 sizes. Every tree and bush is infested with some kind or other 

 of them. If you shoot a bird, and do not speedily pick it up, 

 it will be covered with them. If you lay a bird down for a few 

 minutes, beware how you take it up ; for, if you do so incau- 

 tiously, they will be on your hand in no time, and resent your 

 claiming your own, by instant biting. They are most savage 

 little wretches when interfered with or molested. Take care 

 also how you sit down, either in the forest or anywhere out of 



