Part 28

In. Lines. Length from nose to the root of tail 6 6 of tail 2 10 from nose to ear 1 4 of tarsi (claws included) 1 1 of ear 0 7 Width of ear 0 7½

Habitat, Chile, (September.)

This species is about one-third the size of the last, it differs moreover in being gray instead of brown, and in having the posterior margin of the ear emarginated; the tail is also rather shorter in proportion.

The skull is figured in Plate 33, fig. 1, a, and 1, b; and fig. 23, a, Plate 34. Its length is 1 inch, 4½ lines; width 9¼ lines; length of nasal bones 6 lines; distance between fore part of incisors and the front molar (upper jaw) 5 lines; longitudinal extent of the three molars of upper jaw 3 lines; length of auditory bullæ 5¾ lines; length of ramus of lower jaw (see Plate 33, fig. 1, c,), without incisors, 11½ lines. Fig. 23, c, Plate 34, represents the inner side of a ramus of the lower jaw: fig. 1, d, Plate 33, is the lower jaw seen from above: fig. 23, b, Plate 34, is the same seen from beneath. This view is given to show the position of the descending ramus of the lower jaw—that it springs from the outer side of the alveolar portion, as in a great portion of the South American Rodents, such as Dasyprocta, Myopotamus, Echimys, Chinchilla, and also in that genus found in the West Indian islands, Capromys. Fig. 1, e, Plate 33, represents the molar teeth of the upper jaw, and fig. 1, f, those of the lower.

“This species is abundant on the dry hills, partly covered with bushes, near Valparaiso.”—D.

FAMILY—CHINCHILLIDÆ.

LAGOSTOMUS TRICHODACTYLUS.

Lagostomus trichodactylus, Brooks, Transactions of the Linnean Society, vol. xvi. p. 95, Pl. 9.

La Vizcache, Azara, Essais sur l’Histoire Naturelle des Quadrupedes de la Province du Paraguay, vol. ii. p. 41. Trad. Franc.

Vischacha, Moyen, Acta Academiæ, c. l. c. Naturæ Curiosorum, Tom. xvi. pars 2, p. 584.

Habitat, La Plata.

“I will not repeat what I have said about the habits of this animal in my Journal, as it is merely a corroboration of Azara’s account. According to that author, the Bizcacha is not found north of 30°; and its southern limit occurs in the neighbourhood of the Rio Negro in 41°. Where the plains are gravelly, it is not abundant, but (differently from the Cavia Patagonica,) it prefers an argillaceous and sandy formation, such as that near Buenos Ayres. The Bizcacha abounds over the whole Pampas, even to the neighbourhood of Mendoza, and there it is replaced in the Cordillera by an Alpine species. Of the latter animal, I saw one seated on a pinnacle at a great height, but I could not obtain a specimen of it. Azara has remarked that the Bizcacha, fortunately for the inhabitants of Banda Oriental, is not found to the eastward of the Rio Uruguay; and what makes the case more remarkable is, that although thus bounded by one river, it has crossed the broader barrier of the Parana, and is numerous in the province of Entre Rios. I was assured by a man, whose veracity I can perfectly trust, that these animals, quasi canes, post coitum adnexi sunt.”—D.

FAMILY—CAVIIDÆ.

KERODON KINGII.

Kerodon Kingii, Bennett, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for 1835, p. 190.

Habitat, Patagonia.

“The Kerodon is common at intervals along the coast of Patagonia, from the Rio Negro (Lat. 41°) to the Strait of Magellan. It is very tame, and commonly feeds by day: it is said to bring forth two young ones at a birth. At the Rio Negro it frequents in great numbers the bottoms of old hedges: at Port Desire it lives beneath the ruins of the old Spanish buildings. One old male killed there weighed 3530 grains. At the Strait of Magellan, I have seen amongst the Patagonian Indians, cloaks for small children made with the skins of this little animal; and the Jesuit Falkner says, that the people of one of the southern tribes, take their name from the number of these animals which inhabit their country. The Spaniards and half-civilized Indians, call the Kerodon, ‘conejos,’ or rabbit; and thus the mistake has arisen, that rabbits are found in the neighbourhood of the Strait of Magellan.”—D.

1. CAVIA COBAIA. Cavia Cobaia, Auct.

Habitat, Maldonado, La Plata, (June.)

“This animal, known by the name of Aperea, is exceedingly common in the neighbourhood of the several towns which stand on the banks of the Rio Plata. It frequents different kinds of stations,—such as hedge-rows made of the Agave and Opuntia, or sand hillocks, or again, marshy places covered with aquatic plants;—the latter appearing to be its favourite haunt. Where the soil is dry, it makes a burrow; but where otherwise, it lives concealed amidst the herbage. These animals generally come out to feed in the evening, and are then tame; but if the day be gloomy, they make their appearance in the morning. They are said to be very injurious to young trees. An old male killed at Maldonado, weighed 1 lb. 3 oz. In all the specimens I saw there, (during June, or winter,) I observed, that the hair was attached to the skin less firmly than in any other animal I remember to have seen.”—D.

2. CAVIA PATACHONICA.

Cavia Patachonica, Shaw, General Zoology, vol. ii., part 1, p. 226.

Dasyprocta Patachonica, Desmarest, Mamm. p. 358, Sp. 574.

Dolichotis —— —— —— —— in Note, p. 359–360

Chloromys Patachonicus, Lesson, Manuel de Mammalogie, p. 301.

Lièvre Pampa, Azara, Essais sur l’Histoire Naturelle des Quad. de la Province du Paraguay. French Translation, vol. ii. p. 51.

In the form of the cranium, and in the structure of the teeth, this animal possesses all the characters of the Cavies (Caviidæ).

Habitat, Patagonia.