420 TRINIDAD. 



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 retreat 

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

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

 watching the deer in their feeding grounds. 



Nearly all these animals produce but one at a birth, viz. ; 

 monkeys, the deer, lapo, and pecari : the aguti in general brings 

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

 from five to seven. The monkeys and opossum carry their 

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

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

 captured. Like other ruminaritia, 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 aguti and lapo 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. 

 Although perfectly docile, however, and even much attached to 

 its master and the household, the pecari rushes fiercely on 

 strangers, and is, in fact, an admirable watch. The racoon 

 becomes so familiar as to be troublesome from its caresses. The 

 deer is likewise an annoying favourite, as, besides destroying 

 garden-plants, it nibbles books, cloth, &c. I know an instance of 

 a female deer, which grew so tame, that it was allowed to roam 

 at large about the neighbouring plantations, and thus became 

 large in young ; it was unfortunately shot one night, and, being 

 dangerously wounded, ran to its mistress as for aid and protection ; 

 but it died a few days after, bitterly regretted by the young lady 

 who had taken great pains in rearing it. The squirrel can be 

 easily tamed also, but it will carry off anything it can lay hold of 



