24 BUREAU OF AMEEICAK ETHNOLOGY [bull. 64 



The principal game animals of this region are the deer (ke), two 

 species of wild hog, the warri and peccary (kekem), gibnut Qialih), 

 armadillo (vetsh), wild turkey (kutz), parrot (tut), pigeons of various 

 kinds (mucui), curassow (kamhul), quam (cosh), quail {num), and 

 partridge (mankolom) . Besides these, birds in great variety, rep- 

 tiles, and mammals are killed and eaten from time to time, including 

 plovers, garzas, toucans, water hens, wild ducks, and chichalacas. 

 The iguana (tolok) is eaten by the Indians in the west of British Hon- 

 duras, as are also the woula (odikan), a large constrictor snake, and 

 the rattlesnake, known as the cazon % leash, or "little shark of the 

 woods." Turtles (sacak) are often captured along the east coast of 

 Yucatan and the adjacent islands, and their eggs in the breeding 

 season form a great delicacy for the Santa Cruz Indians living in 

 the neighborhood of Tuluum. Hicatee (ok.) and bucatora are caught 

 in great numbers in aU the rivers and lagoons. The tiger (halam), 

 puma (coh), picote (chic), monkey (maash), tapir (tzimin), squirrel 

 (Jcuuk), cane rat (tso), and other animals are hmited from time to 

 time, either for their skins or flesh. Deer are secured in considerable 

 numbers in the rutting season by imitating their call with a wooden 

 whistle (fig. 6) ; they arc also found in the milpas, just after the burning, 



Fig. 6.— Whistle for attracting deer by imitating their call. 



where they come to lick the slightly saline ashes. At this time the 

 owners build platforms on poles 10 to 12 feet high, on top of which 

 they spend the whole night in an extremely cramped and uncom- 

 fortable position, waiting for deer or other game to approach near 

 enough for an easy shot. A favorite method of hunting the larger 

 game animals is to go out at night with a split-pine torch attached 

 to the hat; this attracts animals of aU kinds, whose eyes may be 

 seen gleaming in the dark, affording an easy mark, though not 

 infrequently a neighbor's errant pig pays the penalty of curiosity. 



Traps of two kinds are in common use. One employed to snare 

 larger game is constructed in the following way: A path frequented 

 by game in going to and from a watering place is found; along this 

 is dug a shallow trench opposite a good sprmgy young sapling; two 

 stakes are driven in, one on each side of the trench, the one farthest 

 from the tree being crooked at the top. A piece of henequen cord, 

 provided with a noose at one end, and with a stick long enough to 

 extend from one stake to the other, firmly tied by its middle above 

 the noose, is attached to the top of the sapling by its other end. 

 The sapling is then bent down and held in place by the stick above 

 the noooe, which is fixed lightly between the crook in one stake and 



