4 THE INSCRIPTIONS AT COPAN. 
were made; rubber (Castilla sp.); copal (Elaphrium gracile Engler), the gum 
of which was used as incense in the religious rites and ceremonies; several 
fibers, as the Carludovica plant, from which baskets, bags, and carriers were 
made, and the wood of the pine (Pinus tenutfolia Bentham), which was used 
for torches. 
As noted above, the flora is exceedingly rich and varied, particularly in 
species useful to man. Maize, beans, and cotton, however, were the staple 
crops, and such is the extent and fertility of the land available for cultivation 
in the valley that it could easily have supported the large population which 
formerly occupied this region.’ 
The fauna, also, doubtless contributed an important part of the food- 
supply in ancient times.? Of the larger Mammalia hunted for their flesh, 
the deer was probably the most important. Landa states that communal 
deer hunts were held in Yucatan,’ and a considerable section of the Codex 
Tro-Cortesianus is devoted to representations of the snaring of that animal. 
At least two species occur: the white-tailed deer, similar to the Virginia deer 
(Odocoileus truet Merriam), and the brocket or forest deer (Mazama sartorit 
Saussure). 
There are two species of the peccary, the collared peccary (Pecari angu- 
latus Cope) and the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari Fischer); one species 
of the tapir, Baird’s tapir (Vapzrella bairdi Gill); three species of the 
ant-eater, the great ant-eater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla centralis Lyon), the 
tamandua ant-eater (Tamanduas tetradactyla Linneus), and the two-toed 
ant-eater (Cyclopes didactylus dorsalis Gray). ‘he flesh of all of these 
animals is still eaten. 
Of the smaller Mammalia, the members of the agouti family (Dasyproc- 
tid@) were probably the most highly prized as articles of diet in ancient 
times, as they are to-day; two species are found in the vicinity of Copan, 
the punctated agouti (Dasyprocta punctata Gray), and the tepescuintle 
(Cuniculus paca nelsont Goldman). ‘Their flesh is considered the most 
savory of all the bush meats. 
Two species of monkeys occur, the Guatemalan howling monkey (4lou- 
atta villosa Gray) and the Mexican spider monkey (Ateles neglectus Reinhardt). 

1For a more detailed account of the flora of the Copan region, see Popenoe’s “The Useful Plants of Copan” 
(1919a), from which the foregoing data have been taken. 
*The fauna and flora of Central America are elaborately described in the several sections of the Biologia 
Centrali-Americana, F. Ducane Godman and Osbert Salvin, editors. This publication of many volumes, and 
covering almost every branch of its chosen field, is little short of an encyclopedia of the Natura! History of Central 
America. The above summary of the principal species hunted by the ancient Maya is based upon the sections 
on Mammalia (Alston, 1870-1882) and Aves (Salvin and Godman, 1897-1904) of this work. The earlier nomen- 
clature, much of which has since become obsolete, has been revised by Major E. A. Goldman, of the Biological 
Survey, Department of Agriculture, whose long familiarity with the fauna of Central America and Mexico qualifies 
him to speak authoritatively on this subject. Maudslay’s epoch-making contribution to the archeology of the 
region is also a section of this work. 
3“ They also join together for hunting in companies of fifty, more or less, and they roast the flesh of the deer on 
gridirons so that it shall not spoil, and when they reach the town, they make presents to their Lord, and distribute 
the rest among themselves as among friends.” (Landa, 1881, p. 81.) 
4Brasseur de Bourbourg, 1869-1870, plates 8-19. 
