T H E A L C O. 261 



XIV. 

 THE A L C O. 



WE formerly remarked, that, in Peru and 

 Mexico, before the arrival of the Europeans, 

 there were domeftic animals called alco, which 

 were nearly of the fame fize and diipofitions 

 with our fmall dogs; and that, from this con- 

 formity, and becaufe they were equally faithful 

 and attached to their matters, the Spaniards 

 gave them the name of Mexica7i or Peruvian 

 dogs. The fpecies of thefe animals, indeed, 

 feems not to differ eifentia 11 y from that of the 

 dog. Befides, the word alco might, perhaps, be 

 a generic and not a fpecific term. Recchi has 

 left us a figure of one of thefe alcos, which, in 

 the Mexican language, was called Ttzcuinte 

 Porzoth. It was prodigiou'fly fat, and probably 

 degraded by its domeftic ftate, and by too much 

 nourifhment. The head is reprefented to be fo 

 fmall that it has no proportion to the fize of 

 the body. Its ears are pendulous, which is an- 

 other mark of llavery. The muzzle refembles 

 that of a dog ; thq,fore part of the head is white, 

 and the eats are pretty yellow. The neck is fo 

 fliort, that there is no interval between the head 

 1^3 



