67 
the immense number of deer, hares, and rabbits on which they 
could and do also prey. As soon as the dogs discover one of 
these animals they set off in pursuit, and soon compel him to 
climb a tree for protection, where he is quickly dispatched 
by the tigero’s rifle. 
The most remarkable animal in this country, in respect to 
its size, is the tapir (tapirus terrestris), which is found in 
great numbers in the upper course of the rivers Chicapa and 
Ostuta, as well as in all the wild spots of the Sierra affording 
good pasture and an abundant supply of fresh water. The 
flesh of this animal has an agreeable taste. 
In the upper Ostuta there are also considerable herds of 
wild cattle, proceeding no doubt from those which escaped 
into the woods from the old estates called Erailescas. 
In the river just mentioned, as well as in all the others 
above named, there are a great number of martens of a par¬ 
ticularly beautiful species. 
In this part of the Isthmus two kinds of the hog are very 
common, one called the wild boar throughout the Republic, 
although it bears no resemblance to the animal known by this 
name in Europe; the other, the pecari, dicotyles tayacu of 
zoology. The male of this last has on the back a gland that 
contains a fetid humour, but its flesh, especially that of the 
female, is delicious food. 
The woods swarm with an immense number of monkeys 
of the genera lagothrix and ateles. 
The deer, rabbits, and hares are innumerable in the Isthmus, 
and the quantity of the latter which are constantly passing by 
the traveller in the plains of the southern coast is almost in¬ 
credible. 
From what has been already said of other animals, the 
abundance of the feathered tribe in these regions will naturally 
be inferred. Of these the crax alector, improperly called phea¬ 
sant ; the wild turkey (meleagris gallo pavo); the chachalaca 
(ortalida garrula); the partridge, the quail, the wild pigeon, 
and ducks of various kinds are particularly remarkable. 
Among the birds the most deserving of attention for their 
beautiful plumage are those of the parrot kind, the toucan 
e 2 
