The fauna partakes partly of the character of that of the equatorial
regions of South America, and of the semi-tropical districts of Mexico.
There are several varieties of ant-eaters, similar to those found in the
valley of the Amazon, while the grey squirrel of more northern latitudes
skips playfully amid the forests of the interior. In the woods and wide
savannahs are two or more varieties of deer--one resembling the European
deer in colour, but of less size, and adorned with large antlers. The
other is of a lighter and browner tint, possessing short, smooth-pointed
horns. The peccary is common in the valleys and low ground along the
coast; while the waree, or wild hog, runs in large droves in many
districts. The tapir, similar to that of the southern continent, also
frequents the seashore and banks of the rivers; and another species,
peculiar to the region, is said to have been discovered lately. There
are numerous varieties of monkeys, among which are the brown, the
horned, and the little, playful capuchin. The raccoon, as elsewhere, is
common, and is noted for its thieving propensities. It lives chiefly on
animal food. There is an interesting little opossum of about ten feet
in length, of a grey colour, with a somewhat large head, and a long and
very flexible tail--the feet being provided with sharp claws. When the
young leave the mother's pouch, she can place them on her back, to which
they cling, while she scrambles amid the forest boughs. Besides the
great ant-eater, there is the smaller striped ant-eater, and the little
ant-eater. There is a curious creature, called the quash, resembling
the ichneumon, which possesses a peculiarly fetid smell, and is known
for its powerful, lacerating teeth. There are several species, also, of
the armadillo, distinguished as the three-banded, eight-banded, and
nine-banded. The paca is also very plentiful, and becomes easily
domesticated. It reaches two feet in length, and its thick, clumsy
form, of a dusky brown colour, may be seen scampering through the woods.
The agouti, or Indian cony, or rabbit, frequents the same region as the
paca, and is about the size of an ordinary hare. It does not, however,
run in the same way, but moves by frequent leaps. The jaguar ranges
through the whole of this part of the continent, and is remarkable for
its large size and great strength. Not only does it frequently kill
full-grown cattle, and drag them to its lair far-away in the woods, but,
if irritated, it does not hesitate to attack human beings. The
tiger-cat, or ocelot, which much resembles a common cat, but is
considerably larger, is also found in the forest; but at the sight of
man it takes to flight, and is, therefore, less frequently seen than its
fiercer relatives. The puma also makes its way from one end of the
country to the other; but though destructive to cattle, it is said here,
as elsewhere, to fly from the face of man. The savage wolf, the cayote,
is frequently met with.
A considerable number of the birds of South America, or of allied
species, are found in many parts of the country. This is the home of
the resplendent trogon, called the quetzal--the imperial bird of the
Quiches. It, however, has but a limited range, being found only in the
mountains of Merendon in Honduras, and in the department of
Quezaltenango in Guatemala. There are numerous varieties of the parrot
tribe, many of them of the most magnificent description with regard to
their colouring. Here, also, the forests are adorned with the gay
plumage of the red and blue macaws, as also by a toucan with a yellow
tail. It is remarkable not only for its bright colour, but for its
curious pendent nests, of which frequently fifty are seen hanging
together from the branch of a single tree. Among the birds of prey, the
ever-present turkey-buzzard and other vultures, hawks, owls, and
sea-eagles, are common; as is the Mexican jay, the ring-bird, the
rice-bird, swallow, and numerous varieties of humming-birds. Among the
water birds are the pelican, the muscovy, and black duck; the
spoon-bill, plover, curlew, teal, darter; while herons, ibises, and
cranes, are found in great numbers on the shores of the lagoons and
rivers. In the interior of the country the splendid Honduras turkey, as
well as the curassow, and several varieties of the wood-pigeon and dove,
as also the partridge, quail, and snipe, exist in abundance.
Of the reptile tribes, alligators of great size are found in nearly all
the lagoons and rivers. There is an infinite variety of lizards,--the
most noted of which is the iguana, which frequently attains a length of
four feet;--and its flesh is here, as in other parts of the continent,
esteemed. There are many varieties of serpents, some of which are
harmless. Of the venomous species, there are the golden snake, the
whip-snake, and the tamagas--the bite of which is considered deadly. So
is also that of the corral. It is of the most brilliant colour, covered
with alternate rings of green, black, and red. To this last may be
added the rattlesnake and the ordinary black snake. Most of these
snakes are found in the lower region near the sea-coast.
In all the rivers and lakes, tortoises and turtles of several kinds are
abundant. The land turtle reaches a foot in length. Its shell is of a
dark colour. It is eaten, but is not esteemed of so good a quality as
the sea turtle. The coasts are frequented by various species of sea
turtle, known as the green, the hawks-bill--which affords the best
tortoise-shell to commerce--and the trunk-turtle, which is larger than
either of its two relatives. From its flesh is extracted a kind of oil,
which is of considerable value.
The hawks-bill turtle, which gains that name from its narrow, sharp, and
curved beak, like that of a hawk, is also called the imbricated turtle,
because its scales overlap each other at their extremities, as tiles are
placed on the roofs of houses.
The green or edible turtle is of great size, weighing often six hundred
pounds, and being upwards of five feet in length. It gains its name
from its rich fat, which is of a green colour; and its flesh is
considered very much superior to that of all its relatives.
The variety and kinds of Crustacea are almost numberless, from the
largest lobster to the smallest crab. Two species--the mangrove crab,
and the white and black land crab--are found near the mouths of the
rivers and in all the lagoons; while the curious soldier crabs, which
seem as much at home in one element as in the other, inhabit in vast
numbers the trees which lie rotting half submerged in the water. At
certain times they may be found making their way into the interior, to
return afterwards to the ocean.
The neighbourhood of the ocean, and the rivers and lakes of the
interior, swarm with an endless variety of fish; while the huge manatee,
or sea-cow, is found in most of the rivers.