HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



51 



'cnt. Mice were brought to Mexico in European fliips ; 

 the rat was not fo, but always known in Mexico by the 

 name of ^imichin^ which term they ufed metaphorically 

 to their fpies. 



The quadrupeds which are common to Mexico and 

 other regions of the new world, are the Cojametl^ Epatl, 

 feveral fpecies of apes, comprehended by the Spaniards 

 under the generic name of Moms^ the Ajotochtli^ Azta- 

 cojotly Tlacuatzin^ Techichi^ TelalmototH^ ^echallotU 

 Amiztli^ Mapach^ and the Danta (/ J. 



The Cojametl^ to which, from its refemblance to the 

 wild boar, the Spaniards gave the name of Javali, or wild 

 hog, is called in other countries of America Pecar^ Saino, 

 and TayaJ/u. The gland it has in the cavity of its back 

 from which a plentiful wheyifli (linking liquid diflils, led 

 the firft hiftorians of the country, and fmce them many 

 others into the miflaken belief that it produced hogs 

 with their navels on their backs ; and many Hill credit 

 the abfurdity, although upwards of two centuries are 

 elapfed fince anatomifts have evinced the error by diffec- 

 tion of the animal. Such is the difficulty of rooting out 

 popular prejudices ! The flefli of the Cojametl is agree- 

 able to eat, provided it is quickly killed, the gland cut 

 out, and all the {linking liquid cleaned from it j other- 

 wife the whole meat becomes infe£led^ 



The 



(/ ) Many authors include the Facoy or Peruvian ram, the Huanacoy the Vi- 

 cogna, taruga, and the floth, amongft the animals of Mexico ; but all thefe qua- 

 drupeds are peculiar to South and none of them to North America. It is true, 

 Hernandez makes mention ef the Paco amongft the quadrupeds of New Spain, 

 gives a drawing of it, and makes ufe of the Mexican name Pdonkhcatl ; but it 

 was on account of a few individuals which were brought there from Peru, which 

 the Mexicans called by that name ; in the fame manner as he defcribea feveral 

 animals of the Philippine Ifles, not that therefore they had ever been bred in 

 Mexico, or found in any country of North America, unlefs it was fome indivi- 

 -dual carried there as a curiofity as they are carried into Europe. 



