NO. 5 MAMMALS OF PANAMA GOLDMAN 73 



PECARI ANGULATUS BANGSI Goldman 



BaiiKS Collared Peccary; /ajiiKj 



Pecari angulaius bangsi (ioLDMAN, Proc. Biol. Soc. WasliiiiKton, Vol. 30, 

 p. Kjg, May 2.3, 1917. Type from Boca de Cujjc, eastern I'aiiama (alti- 

 tude 250 feet). 



In paler coloration the collared peccary of casleni Panama dilfers 

 markedly in appearance from the darker, richer-luted animal inhabit- 

 ing western Panama, 



As " zajino " it is well known to the natives of the Canal Zone 

 and douhtless ranj^es in the forests throughout the eastern part of 

 the rcj)nhlic. Although occurring in nuich smaller herds thati the 

 white-lipped peccary it is more frequetitly met with and seems to 

 exceed that species in numbers. Parties of five or six to twelve or 

 fifteen individuals are not uncommonly met with, and lack of time to 

 devote to the species alone prevented inc from securing a large series 

 of specimens. 



A few small tracks and the (Jepressions left where these peccaries 

 have been rooting or wallowing in nuid may often be seen in isolated 

 parts of the forest. I'Vesh peccary work was seen nearly every day 

 not far from camp in the forest at abotit 8(X) feet on the basal slope 

 of Cerro Azul, but I did not see any of the am'mals, i)r(jbably owing 

 to their becoming alarmed at shots frequently fired at other game. 



The earliest account of this peccary in Panama, and the Indian 

 method of hunting it, is that of Lionel Wafer (1729, p. 328) whose 

 observations, made in 1681, arc quoted as folhjws : 



"The Country has of its own a kind of Hog, which is called 

 Pecary, not much uidikc a Virginia Hog. 'Tis black, and has little 

 short Legs, yet is pretty nimble. It has one thing very strange, that 

 the Navel is not upon the Belly, but the Back : And what is more 

 still, if upon killing a Pecary the Navel be not cut away from the 

 Carcass within 3 or 4 hours after at farthest, 'twill so taint all the 

 flesh, as not only to render it unfit to be eaten, but make it stink 

 insufferably. Else 'twill keep fresh several days, and is very good 

 wholesome Meat, nourishing and well tasted. The Indians barbecue 



it when they keep any of it longer These Creatures usually 



herd together, and range about in Droves ; and the Indians either 

 hunt them down with their Dogs, and so strike them with their 

 Lances, or else shoot them with their Arrows, as they have 

 Opportunity." 



Wafer evidently mistook the dorsal gland for the navel. As stated 

 by him the i>art is removed as soon as possible after an animal is 

 killed, and should not be allowed to touch meat intended for food. 



