JFauna. 7 i 



Pacific seaboard is intermediate between the Californian and South 

 American. In the general aspect of its terrestrial animals, Mexico 

 is connected more with the United States, whereas in its marine forms 

 the reverse movement has taken place. Thus the prevailing species in 

 the Gulf of Mexico as far as Tamaulipas and Texas, and the Pacific 

 coast northwards to Sonora and Lower California, have migrated from 

 South America. The species in the two oceanic basins differ almost 

 completely ; and, despite the proximity of the Pacific and Atlantic 

 shores, their shells are quite distinct. 



The fauna includes three species of large felidae, the puma or 

 American lion, jaguar, and ocelot ; among the smaller is the wildcat. 

 Wolves are common in the northern States, and also the coyote ; be- 

 sides which there are bears, wild boars, and bisons. A species of 

 sloth is found in the southern forests, with five varieties of monkeys. 

 Of the other wild animals the principal are hares, rabbits, squirrels, 

 two or three kinds of deer, beavers, moles, martens, and otters. 



All the domestic animals introduced by the early Spanish settlers 

 have multiplied prodigiously. The horses, though small, retain the 

 spirit and graceful form of the Andalusian or Arabian stock, from 

 which they mainly sprang. 



The waters of the estuaries and coast streams teem with fishes, all 

 the numerous varieties of which differ on the two oceanic slopes, but 

 still present a certain analogy in their general distribution. Turtles 

 are taken in considerable numbers on the coast, and the carey, or 

 turtle-shell, of Yucatan and Guerrero is the object of a trade valued at 

 $20,000 yearly. 



The ophidians are represented by a few boas in the southern forests, 

 and several species of snakes, some extremely venomous, as the rattle 

 and coral snakes. The largest lizard is the iguana, whose flesh is by 

 some of the natives used as food. Noxious insects infest the hot 

 regions in myriads ; alacranes, or scorpions, in two different varieties, 

 are everywhere feared, and many children were every year killed by 

 their sting in the city of Durango before the proper antidote was 

 found and used. Scolopendras, gigantic spiders, tarantulas, and mos- 

 quitoes abound. 



Bees are numerous and their wax is an article of export, and the 

 silkworm, though comparatively neglected, yields an annual profit of 

 some importance. The birds of prey are eagles, hawks, and zopilotes, 

 or turkey-buzzards, the scavengers of the coast towns, with three or 

 four species of owls. Domestic fowl are extremely abundant. The 

 parrots, humming-birds, trogons, and so forth, vie in richness of 

 plumage with those of Brazil, and the Mexican songsters, the prince 

 of which is the zenzontle, or mocking-bird, are unequalled by those of 

 any other country. 



