HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



49 



that vaft kingdom ; but only to give my reader 

 fpme flight idea of the quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, 

 fiflies, and infe(5]:s, which inhabit the land and waters of 

 Anahuac. 



Of the quadrupeds fome are ancient, fome modern. 

 We call thofe modern which were tranfported from the 

 Canaries and Europe into that country in the fixteenth 

 century. Such are horfes, affes, bulls, ftieep, goats, 

 bogs, dogs, and cats, which have all fuccefsfully multipli- 

 ed. In our fourth differtation we fliall evince this truth 

 in confutation of fome philofophers of the age, who have 

 endeavoured to perfuade us that all quadrupeds degene- 

 rate in the new world. 



Of the ancient quadrupeds^ by which we mean thofe 

 that have from time immemorial been in that country, 

 fome were common to both the continents of Europe and 

 America, fome peculiar to the new world, in common 

 however to Mexico and other countries of North or 

 South America, others were natives only of the king- 

 dom of Mexico. 



The ancient quadrupeds common to Mexico and the 

 old continent are, lions, tygers, wild cats, bears, wolves, 

 foxes, the common flags, and white flags (d)^ bucks, 

 wild goats, badgers, polecats, weazles, martens, fquir- 

 rels, Polaiucas^ rabbits, hares, otters, and rats. I am 

 well aware that Mr. BuiTon will not allow a native lion, 



tyger, 



(</) The white flag;, whether it is of the fame or a different fpecles from the 

 other ftag, is unqueftionably common to both continents. It was known to the 

 Greeks and Romans. The Mexicans called it king of the Stags. Mr. Buffon 

 is defirous of perfuading us that the white colour of flags is the effedl of their 

 being in captivity ; but as in the mountains of New Spain, the white flag is 

 found, which was never made captive by man, fuch an idea can no longer be 

 entertained. 



Vol. L G 



