138 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



too long and severe, and he has died by the 

 water's side. 



A strange story has been frequently told me 

 by Indians at different times, and in far apart 

 places, relating to the habits of the cuyote. 

 The different accounts agreed in every ma- 

 terial point, and only varied as the localities 

 would ; and I relate one of them as I heard 

 it from an old Indian ; but first must remark 

 that a great enmity exists between the cuyote 

 and the panther, and whenever the latter 

 falls in with a pack of the former it generally 

 ends by his death. A pack of cuyotes will 

 not take up the trail of a panther they may 

 cross and follow it up, but they will do so 

 when seriously offended by any act of the 

 panther; for instance, should the spotted 

 beast find himself suddenly in the midst of a 

 number of cuyotes, he would very likely 

 knock two or three of them over with his 

 tremendous paw-blows, and escape with all 

 speed ; these wild dogs close on his trail. 

 The panther gets tired first, and then takes 

 refuge on some bough of a tree eight or ten 

 feet from the ground : the dogs soon discover 

 him, but as he is not to be reached, a siege or 

 blockade, in form, is established, and is al- 

 ways successful, unless the pack is alarmed 



