Mexico, its ancient and modern civilisation, history and political conditions, topography and natural resources, industries and general development; (1909) (14595168258)
Summary
Identifier: mexicoitsancient00enoc (find matches)
Title: Mexico, its ancient and modern civilisation, history and political conditions, topography and natural resources, industries and general development;
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: Enock, C. Reginald (Charles Reginald), 1868-1970
Subjects: Mexico
Publisher: London : Unwin
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN
Text Appearing Before Image:
lama and alpaca, thedomestic wool-bearing animals of the camel family, andkindred varieties, which do not exist in Mexico, nor arefound anywhere in the world outside the highlands ofPeru and Bolivia. Indeed, native Mexico, before theintroduction of the equine race from Europe, had nobeast of burden whatever, such as the llama afforded tothe South American aboriginal peoples. The. fauna of the country embraces fifty-two varieties ofmammal quadrupeds, including three species of largefelidae—the jaguar, the puma, or cougar, and the ocelot, acarnivorous cat-like animal, whose name is derived fromthe native Mexican word ocelotl. There are five varietiesof monkeys in the tropical forests, as well as a sloth.There are forty-three classes of reptiles, including alligatorsand turtles, and several kinds of venomous serpents, andthe great boa-constrictor. Upon the plateau and mountainranges wolves and wild-cats abound, and the coyote is thewild inhabitant of the desert plains most in evidence.
Text Appearing After Image:
VEGETATION IX Till. TIOHTCAL FORESTS. (To face p. 153. PHYSICAL CONDITIONS 153 There are several kinds of bears, and the wolf, skunk,bison, and tapir are found. Mexico cannot be said to offer a field for hunters ofbig game, and the term a sportsmans paradise, whichis sometimes applied to it, is something of an exaggeration.Nevertheless, there is considerable sport to be had, andcertain kinds of game abound. Among animals may beenumerated the peccaries, or javilines, deer, rabbits, hares ;of reptiles, alligators, turtles, and iguanas ; whilst whales,seals, and sea-lions are encountered upon the Pacificcoast. Alligators are numerous in the estuaries of therivers of both the Gulf and the Pacific sides, as well asturtles and tortoises. Of birds for the sportsman may bementioned the wild turkey—which, indeed, was intro- V^ duced to Europe from Mexico—partridges, quail, andwild pigeons. The armadillo, beaver, martin, otter, andothers are among the Mex(c3.n fauna. Of noxious reptilesand