NO. 5 MAMMALS OF PANAMA GOLDMAN 73 



PECARI ANGULATUS BANGSI Goldman 



Bangs Collared Peccary; Zajino 

 Pecari angulatus bangsi Goldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, Vol. 30, 

 p. 109, May 23, 1917. Type from Boca de Cupe, eastern Panama (alti- 

 tude 250 feet). 



In paler coloration the collared peccary of eastern Panama differs 

 markedly in appearance from the darker, richer-hued animal inhabit- 

 ing western Panama. 



As " zajino " it is well known to the natives of the Canal Zone 

 and doubtless ranges in the forests throughout the eastern part of 

 the republic. Although occurring in much smaller herds than the 

 white-lipped peccary it is more frequently met with and seems to 

 exceed that species in numbers. Parties of five or six to twelve or 

 fifteen individuals are not uncommonly met with, and lack of time to 

 devote to the species alone prevented me from securing a large series 

 of specimens. 



A few small tracks and the depressions left where these peccaries 

 have been rooting or wallowing in mud may often be seen in isolated 

 parts of the forest. Fresh peccary work was seen nearly every day 

 not far from camp in the forest at about 800 feet on the basal slope 

 of Cerro Azul, but I did not see any of the animals, probably owing 

 to their becoming alarmed at shots frequently fired at other game. 



The earliest account of this peccary in Panama, and the Indian 

 method of hunting it, is that of Lionel Wafer (1729, p. 328) whose 

 observations, made in 1681, are quoted as follows: 



" The Country has of its own a kind of Hog, which is called 

 Pecary, not much unlike a Virginia Hog. 'Tis black, and has little 

 short Legs, yet is pretty nimble. It has one thing very strange, that 

 the Navel is not upon the Belly, but the Back : And what is more 

 still, if upon killing a Pecary the Navel be not cut away from the 

 Carcass within 3 or 4 hours after at farthest, 'twill so taint all the 

 flesh, as not only to render it unfit to be eaten, but make it stink 

 insufferably. Else 'twill keep fresh several days, and is very good 

 wholesome Meat, nourishing and well tasted. The Indians barbecue 



it when they keep any of it longer These Creatures usually 



herd together, and range about in Droves; and the Indians either 

 hunt them down with their Dogs, and so strike them with their 

 Lances, or else shoot them with their A*rows, as they have 

 Opportunity." 



Wafer evidently mistook the dorsal gland for the navel. As stated 

 by him the part is removed as soon as possible after an animal is 

 killed, and should not be allowed to touch meat intended for food. 



