362 TRINIDAD. 



at Carenage and Diego-Martin. The echymys is met in the 

 vicinity of cacao plantations and provision grounds. The whale 

 frequents the Gulf from January to May, and, as far as I am 

 aware, the manati has been seen only in the Guataro, which it 

 ascends for a certain distance in search of food. 



The agouti, pecari, racoon, and monkeys, are accustomed to 

 seek their sustenance during the day, and particularly in the 

 morning and towards evening. The deer, lapa, cachicame, 

 tiger-cat, and great ant-eater, roam about during the night, 

 leaving their recesses or the woods about one or two hours after 

 sunset. Similarly timed is the opossum, and particularly on fine 

 moonlights, which afford the best opportunities for taking them, 

 as several may be surprised on some fruit-tree, and their retreai 

 being cut off they are easily shot. From six in the evenin 

 to eight and ten at night, are also very favourable hours f 

 watching the deer in their feeding grounds. 



Nearly all these animals produce but one at a birth — viz 

 monkeys, the deer, lapa, and pecari : the agouti in general brin, 

 forth two ; the cachicame, from four to five ; and the opossu 

 from five to seven. The monkeys and opossum carry th 

 offspring about ; and should the mother be killed, the youn 

 continue to cling to the parent corpse, and are thus easily 

 captured. Like other ruminantia, the deer conceals its fawn 

 in some thicket, but runs to its succour when called upon by its 

 distressed bleating ; and though ordinarily proverbial for timidity, 

 it has been known, in some cases, to give battle to the aggressor. 

 It is particularly attached to its male offspring. 



The agouti and lapa are easily tamed ; they^ however, always 

 retain something of their natural wild dispositions, particularly the 

 latter, which remains concealed in some corner of the house 

 during the day, and only ventures out after sunset; they are 

 never very pleasant guests, as they gnaw everything which comes 

 within their reach, such as furniture, wainscoting, &c. The 

 deer, pecari, and mangrove dog, particularly the two latter, are 

 easily domesticated, and become as tractable as dogs. Althou 

 perfectly docile, however, and even much attached to its mast 

 and the household, the pecari rushes fiercely on strangers, a: 

 is, in fact, an admirable watch. The racoon becomes so famili 

 as to be troublesome from its caresses. The deer is likewise 

 annoying favourite, as, besides destroying garden-plants, it 



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