SUBURBS OF MERIDA. 13 



secured a photograph of a group of native men, women, 

 and children. 



Along the walls, and in the fields bordering the road, 

 we searched for fossils, and succeeded in finding several 

 fine specimens. We found here several fossil mollusks 

 identical with those found in the Caloosahatchie beds of 

 southern Florida. This fact seemed to point toward a later 

 geological period than is generally assigned to Yucatan, 

 and showed it to be clearly related to the Post Pliocene of 

 Florida. We also found large numbers of land shells 

 about the stone wails bordering the road, and occasionally 

 a lively little lizard would start from a crevice and scamper 

 under a projecting rock. 



As we penetrated farther into the country, birds, and 

 animal life in general, became more abundant. Bright plu- 

 maged birds flew from tree to tree, and gaudy butterflies 

 flitted slowly by. Among- the birds we could distinguish 

 such species as the Great tailed Grackle, numerous fly- 

 catchers and ja^^s. The most noticeable objects were a 

 number of turkey vultures, who were regaling themselves 

 on the half-eaten carcass of a horse. These vultures are 

 great scavengers, and quickly devour any refuse matter, or 

 dead animal, that is left where they can get at it. They are 

 the chief garbage gatherers of Mexico, and a fine is imposed 

 for killing them. We returned to the city toward nightfall, 

 and spent the evening listening to a very good band in the 

 plaza major. 



It was in the year 1506 that Juan Dias de Solis discov- 

 ered the east coast of Yucatan, and sailed along it some dis- 

 tance. On the 8th of February, 1517, Francisco Hernan- 

 dez de Cordova landed at Cape Cotoche, was attacked 

 by the natives, and a battle ensued, in which the latter 

 were repulsed with great slaughter. They next landed at 

 Campeachy, and noted a city there composed of stone 



