20 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 
cance to the natives. Bats are frequently represented 
in the ancient art and a bat demon appears in several 
myths. 
Upon the highlands of Mexico the Toltecan deer is 
still hunted, together with the wild turkey, that is the 
parent of our domestic birds. 
The turkey was, in fact, domes- 
ticated by the Mexican tribes. 
It probably occurred southward 
over the Guatemalan highlands 
but is now extinct in this latter 
Fig. 3. Yucatan Deer Yegion. In the southern part of 
caught ina Snare. From Central America the place of the 
the Mayan Codex, Tro- . .' 
“RT ce turkey as an item of diet is taken 
by the curassow, a yellow-crested 
bird with black plumage. The coppery-tailed trogon, 
the famous quetzal, was sacred in ancient times and 
is now the emblem of Guate- 
mala. This beautiful bird occurs 
only in the cloud cap forest zone 
on the high mountains of south- 
ern Mexico and (Guatemala. 
Blue macaws, parrots, paroquets, 
and humming birds contributed 
their gay plumage to adorn head- 
dresses and _ feather-covered 
cloaks. These and many other 
birds doubtless flitted about in 
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the aviary of Moctezuma. ‘The Fig. 4. The Moan 
ge s 2 Bird, or Yucatan Owl, 
black vulture, the king vulture personified as & Tan 
and the harpy eagle are other god. Dresden Codex. 
conspicuous birds often figured 
in the ancient art. The coyote, ocelot, and puma are 
the principal beasts of prey on the highlands. 
Among the characteristic trees of the lowlands may 
