PREFACE. 



vHEEE is no country on the face of the earth that pos 

 ^]^ sesses greater interest in the eyes of the scientific or 

 travelled than Mexico, the scene where the adventures 

 so graphically and clearly narrated in this volume transpired ; 

 nor is this partiality to be wondered at, when we recall to 

 memory what a lavish hand Nature has subtended to her. 



Although several of our most celebrated naturalists have 

 climbed its lofty volcanic mountains, explored its lagoons and 

 giant rivers, and traversed its immense forests, still, from the vast 

 extent of that country, and variety of climate — caused by difference 

 of elevation, — much yet remains to be done ere the public become 

 thoroughly conversant with its arboreal and zoological produc- 

 tions. 



The elephant, hippopotamus, lion, and tiger, the largest and 

 most formidable of the terrestrial mammals of the Old World, are 

 not here to be found ; but their places are well supplied by the 

 swamp-loving tapir, the voracious alligator, the stealthy puma, 

 and the bloodthirsty jaguar, all well worthy of the sportsman's 

 rifle,^ or of the snake- visioned native warrior's weapons — for the 

 power of destruction in these animals during life is great, while 

 after death they either furnish valuable skins or wholesome 

 food. Moreover, here the wolf awakes the reverberating echoes 



