146 Addenda to the History

it climbs trees, where it spends more time than on the ground. It moves so slowly that when its feet are extended, its belly seems to touch the earth. It does not cover the distance of a stone's throw in fifteen days, and it consumes two whole days just climbing a tree; it will not quicken its pace for either threats or blows. For this reason, the Jesuit Joannes Eusebius, comparing the nature of this animal to a lazy man, once composed this playful eight-line poem:

Nature laughs at you, Sluggard; the Brazilian vales Are home to a foul beast that shares your name. It crawls with a heavy gait, never rising on its feet, But with a slow belly, it licks the fatty ground. It hurries a stone’s throw in thrice five days, And in two days, exhausted, it enters its leafy bed. But its laziness yields neither to threats nor blows, Nor does its leaden torpor cease even if a wound is dealt.

ON THE MOUNTAIN BADGER

In New Spain, they call the mountain badger *Quauhpeccotli*. This animal is about eighteen to twenty-four inches long, with a long, slender snout that is upturned at the end. It also has a long tail and long fur, which is whitish around the belly while the rest is dark brown or black and white, though it is blacker along the back. Its feet are black and equipped with curved claws.

It is easily tamed and quite voracious, as it spares no food offered to it, yet its own flesh is not edible. It is a gentle creature that is remarkably affectionate and playful, though it can be harmful to strangers. It seems it should be classified among the badger family, as many people are accustomed to calling it a "Texon."

ON OTTERS

The animal the Indians call the *Ahoitzotl* appears to be a type of otter; it is the size of a Maltese dog and is variegated with black and dark brown. Closely related to this is another beast called the "Sea Lion," which is about twenty-seven inches long. It has reddish, dark fur on its back that is long and soft, a slender and long snout, curved claws, short legs and ears, and a tail eighteen inches long. It lives on fish and dwells not far from the southern coast; only its pelt is used.

Very close to these beasts is another called the *Cattivare*. It is amphibious and feeds on a type of rush that grows on the banks of freshwater streams. If it is seized by any fear, it flees into the water, diving all the way to the bottom. It is larger than the others, with a head much like a hare's, though thicker and with smaller ears. It has a blunt, short tail and longer legs than an otter; indeed, it flees from river to river with a swift run even over land. Its fur is blackish, and its feet have three toes. It is edible and tastes like pork to those who eat it.