Tayra

It is a wild animal which lives in Toztlan [and] Caseapan, almost by the ocean shore. As for its being named tzoniztac, its head is a pure white which extends to its neck. It is rather large, something like an ocelot, thick-bodied, squat. It goes about hunting [other] wild animals. When it sees one, then it growls much, it bares its teeth; then it pounces upon it. Its fore [and] hind feet are like an ocelot’s; it is a very high jumper which seemingly flies into the trees. All its body—its forelegs, its hind legs—all are glistening black. Its tail is long, just like an ocelot’s. No one can easily find this tzoniztac. Whosoever comes upon it, if he sees that its head is yellow, he who sees it will then die. But to whosoever sees that its head has not yellowed, it comes to pass that he will grow very old; and its meaning is that he will be poor even if he lives still longer, even if he still works hard for his living. If two, if perhaps three [men see it], all die; sometimes only one man is spared. They take [the animal] as an omen of evil. In hunting it, they just shoot it with arrows.