140 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



they will bolt for the nearest biscachero, but if foiled there, they 

 either run about at random, or stop and look stupidly at their 

 pursuer till he hits them over the head. 



Their flesh, unless when old, is excellent, closely resembling 

 that of the rabbit. But most people have a repugnance to 

 try it, probably prejudiced by the forbidding aspect of the 

 animal. 



Their skins are almost worthless, and very difficult to separate 

 from the body ; so that their marketable value is no incentive to 

 their destruction. 



Associated with the biscacha, we find the Brazilian or rabbit 

 owl (Pholeoptynx cimicularia), while the burrowing ground 

 woodpecker {Geositta cimicularia?) confidently digs its habitation 

 in the brow of one of the burrows. Foxes and wild dogs 

 frequently take up their abode in a biscachero, enlarging one of 

 the burrows for that purpose. I have also found tiger cats 

 (Fells tigrina, Linn.?), ''peludos" or armadilloes {Dasijpus villosus?), 

 two species of "comadrejas" or opossums {Didelphi?), polecats 

 {Viverra me})hitis, Linn.?), and various species of rats and mice, 

 but never yet a snake, under any circumstances. 



Li some parts of the province a species of small wild melon, 

 pretty indeed, but bitter to the taste, is common, growing 

 frequently upon the biscacheros, but the biscachas do not seem to 

 eat it, nor yet is there any association to be found between them, 

 as that half inferred by Proctor. Their staple food indeed con- 

 sists of succulent grasses and a trefoil called '' carretilla," but 

 when they can get at maize or wheat, they commit great 

 devastation among it. 



In conclusion, though the biscacha is a very interesting rodent, 

 no landowner seems to appreciate it properly ; and I am afraid 

 that even the naturalist, whose horse has come down with a 

 sudden crash and shot the unwary rider over its head, sums up 

 his observations on it in a manner more emphatic and concise 

 than instructive ! 



30th January, 1877. 



Mr James Barclay Murdoch, Vice-President, in the chair. 

 Mr James Smith was elected an ordinary member. 



