60 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



body which is well made is fcvcn or eight inches long. 

 Its fnout is like that of a moufe, its ears fmall and round, 

 and tail fliort. Its mouth is armed with very ftrong teeth, 

 and its paws are furniflied with ftrong crooked nails, with 

 which it digs into the earth and makes little holes, where 

 it inhabits. The Tuza is moft dcftru£live to the fields by 

 ftealing the corn, and to the highways by the number of 

 holes and hollows which it makes in them ; for when it 

 cannot, on account of its little fight, find its firft hole, it 

 makes another, multiplying by fuch means the inconve- 

 niences and dangers to thofe who travel on horfeback. 

 It digs the earth with its claws, and with two dogs-teeth 

 which it has in the upper jaw, larger than its others ; in 

 digging it puts the earth into two membranes like purfes 

 which are under its ear, which are furniflied with muf- 

 cles necelTary for contra6i:ion or diftention. When the 

 membranes are full, it empties them by ftriking the bot- 

 tom of the membranes with its paws, and then goes on 

 to dig again in the fame manner, ufing its dogs-teeth 

 and claws as a mattock, and its two membranes as a lit- 

 tle fack or baiket. The fpecies of the Tuza is very nu- 

 merous ; but we do not recolleft to have ever feen them 

 in the places where the land-fquirrels inhabit. 



The Ahuitzotl is an amphibious quadruped, which for 

 the moft part dwells in the rivers of warm countries. Its 

 body is a foot long, its fnout long and fliarp, and its tail 

 large. Its ildn is of a mixed black and brown colour. 



The Huitztlacuatzin is the hedge-hog or porcupine of 

 Mexico. It is as large as a middling dog, which it refem- 

 bles in the face, although its muzzle is flat ; its feet and 

 legs are rather grofs, and its tail in proportion with its 

 body. The whole of its body, except the belly, the hind- 

 er part of the tail, and infide of the legs, is armed with 



quills 



