150 



THE ADVENTURES OF 



she knows that we are far from shelter — exposed to all its 

 violence." 



I kissed poor Lucien, and comforted him as well as I 

 could, assisted by 1'Encuerado, who soon afterwards took 

 him off to look after our roast rabbit. 



The tochtli, or Mexican rabbit, is different from the 

 European species, although it has the same colored coat and 

 instincts. In fact it is a hare. 



" Do you know the family of the animal we are going to 

 have for breakfast ?" asked Sumichrast. 



" Yes ; it is a Rodent." 



" Well done ; but how did you recognize it to be so ?" 



" By the absence of canine teeth in its jaws, its large in- 

 cisors, and its hind legs being longer than its fore legs." 



" Come, your memory is good. You should also know 

 that, in Europe, the rabbit, which is nearly allied to the hare, 

 is thought to be a native of Africa. Formerly, the Aztecs 

 used to sacrifice hundreds of these animals to the goddess 

 Centeutl, who is the Ceres of Mexican mythology ; and the 

 nobles used to wear cloaks made of the hair of the hare, 

 mixed with cotton. With regard to the larger hare, known 

 farther north as the Jackass rabbit, the Indians generally 

 refuse to eat its flesh, under the pretense that it feeds on 

 dead bodies, a mistake which as yet they have not been per- 

 suaded to abandon." 



We did justice to our game like guests who have to 

 make up for a forced fast. The meal finished, without fur- 

 ther delay our little coterie moved on again. Instead of the 

 abundant and bushy thickets of sarsaparilla, we met with 

 nothing but stunted shrubs. However, as we approached 

 the mountain the vegetation assumed a richer aspect, and 

 the bare rocks no longer protruded through the soil. Here 

 and there, tanagers, with black backs, yellow breasts, and 

 violet-blue throats, fluttered around us ; also other variega- 



