FAUNA. 



269 



The tiger-cat, or ocelot, which much resembles a common cat, 

 but is considerably larger, is also found in the forest ; but at 

 the sight of man it takes to flight, and is, therefore, less fre- 

 quently seen than its fiercer relatives. The puma also makes 

 its way from one end of the country to the other ; but though 

 destructive to cattle, it is said here, as elsewhere, to fly from 



THE JAGUAR OF CENTRAL AMERICA.. 



the face of man. The savage wolf, the cayote, is frequently 

 met with. 



A considerable number of the birds of South America, or of 

 allied species, are found in many parts of the country. This 

 is the home of the resplendent trogon, called the quetzal — 

 the imperial bird of the Quiches. It, however, has but a 

 limited range, being found only in the mountains of Merendon 

 in Honduras, and in the department of Quezaltenango in 



