Mexico

Among the many plants of economic value that America has given to the world, several might with some right claim Mexico as their country of origin. It is perhaps true of the cacao tree, of the maize, probably derived through mutation from the teosinte (Euchloena mexicana), or from a hybrid of the teosinte and of some cultivated grass of the sorghum tribe (Andropogonae), of the tomato and also of the aguacate, or alligator pear. Most of these plants bear either Aztec names or those of Aztec origin. Moreover, many plants of economic value, the origin of which is to be found in the Old World, have encountered conditions favour able to their acclimatization in Mexico; such is the case of the citrus and practically all the temperate fruits and vegetables of Europe. Mexico has 5o varieties of beans, several dozens of green and red pepper ; and it grows the potato, sweet potato, yam, sugar cane, cotton, indigo, coffee, vanilla and banana.

Fauna.

Since Pliocene times—that is to say, since the two Americas were united—the two faunas have merged, and the Mexican fauna of to-day is made of animals of South and North America, with predominance of the latter. The high plateau attracted the North American fauna (Sonorian fauna: wolf, coyote, buffalo, bear, beaver, etc.) while the low lands, on both sides, and to the South, forced the South American fauna (jaguar, puma, five species of monkeys, etc.) toward and into the United States. Besides the above-mentioned, the Mexican fauna includes the ocelotl, a typical Aztec name, the lynx, badger, otter, rac coon, tapir, two species of peccary, the skunk, several species of opossum, the sloth, two species of ant-bears, the armadillo, at least three species of deer, the Mexican big horn (still found in Chihuahua and Lower California), the fur-bearing seal and many different kinds of small rodents. Bats are numerous, among them the dangerous vampire, which makes it so difficult to keep horses in some parts of Chiapas and Campeche.

Mexican birds are extremely numerous, and comprise many beautiful species, while a few (notably the zenzontle or mocking bird) are songsters, the latter being identified with the cold and temperate zones. In the warm zone, on the other hand, as well as in the temperate, are found many varieties of parrots, parrakeets and macaws besides toucans, spoon-bills, boat-bills, ducks, peli cans, cormorants, sandpipers, curlews, grackles, ever-abundant chachalacas (Ortalina polycephala), wood peckers, jays, cuckoos, turkeys, partridges, quail and doves (sometimes seen in immense bevies), buzzards, especially the black zopilote which is protected by the Mexican laws as the scavenger of the country, and many humming-birds (chupaflor, chupamiel). The gorgeous quetzal (Trogon resplendens) has almost disappeared from Mexico and is now rarely found even in Guatemala where its love of freedom has made it the emblem of the country. The turkey is the only

important domestic animal of Mexican (and American) origin that was added to the European farm-yard.

Reptiles of all denominations can be found anywhere in Mexico. All tropical rivers and lagoons abound in alligators, while the sea gives abode to enormous turtles and the swamps to tortoises and iguanas. One species of iguana, the black one, is largely arboreal. Lizards of many varieties are found everywhere; snakes are equally abundant, some, like the palanca (fer de lance of Marti nique), the naoyaca and 13 out of the 15 species of American rattlesnakes being much dreaded. Many interesting varieties of amphibians are also to be found, as, for example, the remarkable tree-climbing frogs and toads and the famous axolotl.

Notwithstanding the great abundance of marine fishes of many varieties which may be had for the effort, there is no real fishing industry in Mexico. Some of the coast lagoons, for example Rio Lagartos, in Yucatan, have enormous quantities of fish on which feast numerous alligators and flamingoes.

In the tropical parts of Mexico man's greatest and most danger ous enemies are the insects, especially the many varieties of garrapatas, or ticks, niguas or chigoe (Oestrus humanus), jejen or gnat, mosquitoes and fleas, the first of these having in some in stances wiped out cattle and horses from certain districts. Numer ous species of ants are also found, the most famous being the leaf cutting variety. The most destructive type of insect, however, is the so-called white ant or termite.

Population.

A comparison of the results of the census of 1930 (preliminary estimates indicated by *) with those of the 190o census, as well as the density per square mile in each State and in the whole republic, is afforded by the table in next column, showing the distribution by States.

The most important cities of the Republic are Mexico City, 1,029,068 inhabitants, Guadalajara* 179,556, Puebla Monterrey 132,577, Leon* 132,577, San Luis Potosi 74,003, Aguascalientes 62,244, Veracruz* 36,612. The total number of foreigners residing in Mexico is relatively small, their proportion to the total population being only 1.41%, more than half of whom are of Spanish tongue. According to the 1921 census the Spaniards, 26,675, are the most numerous and then come Americans, 21,740, Guatemalans 17,473, Chinese, 14,813, about 3,500 Germans, 3,500 French, 3,500 English and 3,00o Italians. Most foreigners live in the large cities, Mexico City having 12,063 Spaniards, 2,382 Americans, 1,652 French, 1,223 Germans, 8o3 Cubans and 6ro *Preliminary Estimates.