1892 
Tlalpsm 
(Mexico) 
The x 
found 
species of Sjtpays, a Neotoma. civet cats, a Mephitis, and a Spilogale. 
and 2 Lepus . Along the eastern border of this lava bed is an almost 
equally extensive bed of fine volcanic sand which extends dovm the 
slope from the vicinity of the volcano and out upon the flat covering, 
to a depth of from a few inches to several feet, the old lake bed de¬ 
posit of vegetable mould. 
In this sand at the border of the plain are great numbers of a 
i 
small Dipodcagys. with a few Sjtcsays sonoriensis. Spermophilus mexjeanua 
and S. macrourus. and greet, numbers of a small, yellow Perognathus . 
Tlalpam, like all of the small towns in the valley of Mexico, is 
I- 
largely made up of Indians and mixed bloods. The market day is Sunday 
and the people who bring in the fruit, vegetables, etc., etc., are all 
Indians, some from various parts of the valley and others from Morelos. 
Among other things for sale I saw one man who had some SO or 40 
spindles and whorls of baked clay. The spindles were about 15 inches 
long and the size of a lead pencil and were thrust through the whorl 
the latter being fastened about l/3 the distance up from the butt of 
spindle. Among other things for sale were great quantities of a spe¬ 
cies of water bug, . which is caught in the shallow 
water of the lakes and canals, dried and brought to market here and 
elsewhere about the valley by bushels in sacks. ( Corysa punctata and 
Hot one eta glauea are two species of bugs found in the lakes of the 
valley.) With the adult insects they were at the same time selling 
the small, grayish white eggs of this insect in almost equal numbers. 
The people told me that the insects are sold for bird feed, but 
that the eggs are cooked and eaten by themselves as a delicacy. R Son 
bueno para nosotros, oristianos” as the Indian market man put it. 
The night8 and mornings were sharp and frosty all through December 
M 
- 138 
