ANIMALS. 
205 
All the towns and villages literally swarm with dogs. These 
are generally small, wolfish-looking curs, totally devoid of 
courage, and only kept to alarm the inhabitants, by a series 
of the most piteous and cowardly yelps, on the approach of 
danger. 
Among the more important quadrupeds found wild, is the 
Tapir, the Puma, or American Lion, the Jaguar, or Ounce (im- 
properly called tigre by the inhabitants), the Ocelot, or small 
Tiger, the Yfild-cat, Coyote, Peccary, or Wild-hog, Deer, Fox, 
Monkey, Coatimondi (Wasua rufa), Hare, Pabbit, Porcupine, 
Opossum, Armadillo, &c. In respect to size, the Tapir (Tapirm 
amerieanus), known also as the Danta, is most important, and is 
found chiefly in the central division of the Isthmus. This ani- 
mal is not gregarious, and shuns the society of man — its chosen 
haunts being in the inmost recesses of the forest, and the inac- 
cessible spots of the Cordillera. In color it is a deep brown, 
approaching to black, and the skin is so thick and tough as to 
resist a musket-ball ; this, with a strong set of incisors, consti- 
tutes the animal's means of defence. The Tapir, however, being 
herbivorous, is of a peaceful disposition, and though possessed 
of great muscular strength, seldom attacks man or beast ; but 
when closely cornered it defends itself vigorously. 
The Jaguar, or " Tigre," is one of the most common, as also 
the most ferocious and destructive beasts of j rey known to in- 
habit this portion of Mexico. Although considerably smaller 
than the African or Asiatic Tiger, its characteristics are iden- 
tical with those species — preying upon all kinds of game, and 
not unfrequently on the larger domestic quadrupeds, as horses 
and cattle. It is, however, seldom known to attack a man, un- 
less strongly impelled by hunger, or in self-defence. The In- 
dians generally hold them in great dread, and will not traverse 
the forests alone where they are known to abound. The Juchi- 
tecos are in some respects an exception, as being more athletic 
and courageous than the other inhabitants of the Isthmus. They 
do not hesitate, even when alone, to attack a Tiger, and often- 
times with no other weapon than their machetes. On meeting, 
the Indian partially conceals his person by a blanket or cotton 
cloth pendent from the left arm, which is held horizontally 
