EXPLANATORY INDEX. 475 



are all little birds, being on an average, about as large as the 

 bullfinch. Most of the species are South American, but 

 some are from Africa. Some totally distinct birds belonging 

 to the genus Tigrisoma are also called Tiger-birds. 



TIGER-CAT. One of the small Leopards known as Margays 

 (Leopardus tigrinus). Several species of leopard are called by 

 this name. "Waterton tamed one of them, brought it home, 

 and actually trained it to run with the fox-hounds. It was 

 very useful as a rat-catcher. 



TINAMOU. These birds all belong to the genus Tinamotis, 

 and are all natives of South America. They are on an 

 average about the size of a grouse. They have very short 

 tails, which gives them rather a lumpish appearance. They 

 seem to be rather stupid birds, and can be caught by a 

 noose fixed to the end of a long stick. The species which is 

 mentioned by Waterton under the name of Maam is probably 

 Tinamotis elegans. 



TIRANA. See "Sun bird." 



TORTOISE. This is the Box-Tortoise (Cistuda Carolina), 

 so called because it can not only draw its limbs and head 



within the shell, but can fold the shell together, so that it 

 is quite invulnerable. See Sydney Smith's simile on page 19. 

 The negroes call it by the name of Cooter. 



