DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 77 



great stretches of sword grass {X:ijpTieagrostis jloridula) in whicl' it 

 hides. These animals often make raids upon the garden patches of the 

 natives, sometimes coming down into the palace garden at night and 

 eating the melons and other succulent vegetables cultivated there. 

 During the rutting season the honking cries of the fighting bucks are 

 heard at night, especially when the moon is full. 



Domestic animals. — Buti'alo, cattle, horses, mules, pigs, goats, C9,ts, 

 and dogs have been introduced. The butlalo {BnlKdu-s hufelus L.) are 

 used for carrying burdens, drawing carts, and for plowing rice, just 

 as in the Philippines. Their flesh is seldom eaten in Guam and their 

 milk, which is of excellent quality and in some countries is an impor- 

 tant food staple, is never used. The}^ are very strong animals, but 

 awkward and more difficult to manage than oxen. It is a common 

 sight in Guam to see a small boy riding a buti'alo })ull. As the huge, 

 ungainly, great-horned animal goes galloping along the road it sug- 

 gests some monster of prehistoric times. Buft'alo can not endure long- 

 periods of drought. They love to wallow in swamps and, if hot and 

 diw, will sometimes lie down with their riders when crossing a marsh. 



Many of the Guam cattle bear a general resemblance to Jerseys in 

 size and color, though their udders are much smaller. Both bulls and 

 cows are used as steeds and for drawing carts. A foreigner is espe- 

 cialh' struck with the speed developed by some of these animals. It 

 is a common sight to see a dainty smooth-skinned cow saddled and hal- 

 tered trotting along as swiftly as a horse, with her calf galloping at 

 her side. AVith the exception of a few herds of cattle and buffalo in 

 the interior of the island, all animals in domestic use are kept tethered, 

 to keep them away from the unfenced garden patches and cornfields 

 of the natives. They are subject to the attacks of wood ticks (Acarina), 

 so that the}^ must be frequently examined. The natives rub their 

 skins and currv them like horses. Sometimes a neglected animal dies 

 in consequence of the attacks of these pests. 



Horses do not nmltiply on the island. Colts are born but do not 

 thrive. Goats are not plentiful. Wild hogs roam the forests in the 

 northern part of the island. They live on fallen wild breadfruit and 

 various roots. It is interesting to note that the}^ eat the exceedingly 

 acrid rootstocks of the great Alocasia which grows wild in the forests 

 (see p. 70). Hogs kept on ranches and fed on coconuts, breadfruit, 

 and other vegetable substances are prized for food. The excellent 

 flavor of the Guam pork was much praised by early navigators (see 

 pp. 18 and 20). Dogs are pests in the villages. The}- are not well 

 cared for, as a rule, and get their living by foraging. Cats have gone 

 wild, and sometimes destroy the eggs of sitting hens and catch young 

 chickens and turkeys. Dogs and cats are fed upon coconuts when 

 other food is not available. 



