QUIROGA: a MEXICAN MUNICIPIO — BRAND 



157 



herd animals, especially sheep. Dogs are pro- 

 portionately more nmnerous in the ranchos than 

 in town. Families may have up to six, seven, and 

 eight dogs, but the usual number is one. Despite 

 the great variation to be found in the dogs they 

 all appear to be of Old World stock (Canis fami- 

 liaris). Undoubtedly there has been absorbed 

 into the make-up of the Quiroga dogs the various 

 Indian strains (hairless dogs; fat little red dogs 

 which were castrated, fattened, and eaten; etc.) 

 in addition to the strains brought over by the 

 Spaniards (sheep-dogs, greyhounds, bloodhounds, 

 terriers, etc.). We saw only two or three which 

 approximated the Mexican hairless dog (which is 

 almost extinct), and none at all of the eating type. 

 There were a few dogs of pure type brought in 

 from outside of the area, including fox terriers 

 and greyhounds. After a considerable sojourn 

 and much wandering over the area, we are not 

 inclined to rate the dogs of Quiroga very highly in 

 honesty, franlcness, and courage. A particularly 

 vicious trait is the habit of many to approach 

 silently from behind and bite without warning. 



Cats {Felis domestica) were introduced by the 

 Spaniards. They serve chiefly as lap pets and 

 mousers. Tortoise-sheU and tabby cats predomi- 

 nate, and there are but few black or white cats. 

 A few families have angoras. Some families have 

 up to five and sis cats, but there usually is but one. 



The only other mammals kept were two tame 

 deer {Odocoihus mexicanus), three Old World 

 rabbits or conejos de castilla {Lepus cuniculus), 

 and two tamed local rabbits or conejos de campo, 

 (Sylvilagus floridanus) . Not caged but claimed 

 by 16 households were 59 pigeons (palomos, 

 pichones) which seemed to be the Eiu-opean Colum- 

 bia livia. No apparent use was made of these 

 birds, but they were fed occasionally. There 

 were also four caged native mourning doves known 

 as huilota and torcaz (Zenaidura macroura mar- 

 ginella). Besides these huilotas there were 72 

 caged birds in 55 homes. From the evidence of 

 empty cages there were formerly many more 

 caged birds, and we were informed that this was 

 true up to the last revolution. Unlike in many 

 parts of Mexico the favorite bird was not the 

 mockingbird or zenzontle {Mimus pohjglottos 

 leucopterns) , of which there were but four. The 

 favored singers were 16 jilgueros {Myadestes ob- 

 scurus) and four clarines (Myadestes unicolor). 

 These two solitaires are caught in the wooded 



highlands near Quiroga, where often their rippling 

 notes can be heard in the wooded canyons al- 

 though the birds are seldom seen. The next group 

 comprised 19 gorriones, including three gorriones 

 amarillos. The term gorrion is applied to a num- 

 ber of the Fringillidae including grosbeaks, finches, 

 and sparrows. Among the gorriones we saw there 

 was a predominance of Mexican house finches 

 {Carpodacus mexicanus) which are among the most 

 common wild birds in the settlements. There 

 were 15 Old World canary birds, priacipally of the 

 greenish-yellow type. The last group of caged 

 birds consisted of 14 parrots and macaws, most of 

 which were not kept in cages but were chained to 

 perches; and a few were so tame that they were 

 allowed to roam throughout the patio and house. 

 The local wUd thick-billed parrot is not among 

 these birds, and all of the four forms represented 

 are brought up from the tierra caliente. There 

 was one guacamayo or macaw {Ara militaris); 

 five cotorras, cotorritas, or periquitos {Aratinga 

 canicularis) ; and seven loros, pericos, or cotorras 

 {Amazona spp.). One house had 60 goldfish 

 (pescados de colores) in a tank in the patio. 



GATHERING ECONOMY 



We use the phrase "gathering economy" to em- 

 brace all the pursuits which are based on gathering 

 or collecting wild plants and animals. One of the 

 oldest, and the most important of these pursuits, 

 is the gathering of deadwood and the cutting of 

 trees for firewood and charcoal. Sun worship 

 (associated with fire) was the basic element in the 

 Tarascan religion, and the favored rite and sacri- 

 fice was the burning of wood in the temples. Al- 

 though the introduction of Christianity put a stop 

 to votive fires, wood cutting for domestic fire- 

 wood and charcoal (the use of charcoal apparently 

 was introduced by the Spaniards) continued at a 

 rate perhaps accelerated by the introduction of 

 steel hatchets and axes. As mentioned elsewhere, 

 wood is the chief domestic fuel for cooking and 

 heating, and is used on occasion as the sole source 

 of illumination. In 1940 there were but two wood 

 cutters (lefiero, lenador) Usted in the census, but 

 in 1945 there were 12 whose principal occupation 

 was the cutting, packing to town, and distributing 

 of leOa or firewood. Actually, the number is 

 greater since many of the batelleros, campesinos, 

 and jornaleros, whenever not otherwise engaged, 

 earn a living by cutting firewood. Shrubs may 



