154 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



There is a fair quantity of rabbits in the 

 forest, especially near the mountains, but 

 they are preyed upon by all classes of carni- 

 verous animals, and also by the larger sort of 

 snakes ; but there is a larger sort of animal, 

 looking half pig and half rabbit, which is 

 very superior eating ; I believe it answers to 

 the animal known as the "agouti." The 

 flesh is white, and makes an excellent dish 

 in the woods, as its own fat assists the 

 cooking. 



Before passing to perhaps the more amus- 

 ing subjects of alligators and snakes, I wish 

 to conclude this chapter with a few remarks 

 on some of the principal birds of the forest, 

 and will commence with the wild turkey. 



There are two species of wild turkey in 

 Central America, differing widely from each 

 other, both in appearance, and value as an 

 article of food. The commonest is the al- 

 most black turkey, with a grey spotted breast 

 and red crest ; their form is elegant, and their 

 movements resemble the peahen ; they are 

 abundant near rivers or water, and it is not 

 difficult to bag five or six in a day's shooting; 

 but the flesh is dark and rather coarse when 

 roasted, but makes splendid soup, very like 

 hare soup, and slices cut raw from the breast 



