CTiAP. IX.] WILD nABBITS. 193 



The rabbit is auothfT animal wliich has been introduced, and 

 has succeeded vf-ry well ; so that tliey abound over large parts 

 of the island. Yet, like the horses, they are confined within 

 certain limits ; for J»ey have not crossed the central chain of 

 hills, nor would t'.iey irave extended even so far as its base, if. as 

 the Gauchos informed me, small colonies had not been carried 

 tliere. I should not have supposed that these animals, natives of 

 northern Africa, could have existed in a climate so humid as 

 this, and which enjoys so little sunshine that even wheat lipens 

 only occasionally. It is asserted that in Sweden, which any one 

 would liave thouq^ht a more favourable climate, the rabbit cannot 

 live out of doors. The first few pair, moreover, had here to 

 contend against pre-existing enemies, in the fox and some large 

 hawks. The French naturalists have considered the black va- 

 riety a distinct species, and called it Lepus Magellanicus.* They 

 ima<2rined that Maijellan, when talkin<2r of rm animal under the 

 name of ' conejos' in tlie Strait of Magellan, referred to this 

 species ; but lie was alluding to a small cavy, which to this day 

 is til us called by the Spaniards. The Gauchos lauglied at the 

 i<Iea of the black kind being different from the grey, and they 

 mid tiiat at all events it had not extended its range any furtlier 

 than the grey kind ; tliat the two were never found separate ; 

 ar;d that they readily bred together, and produced piebald off- 

 ppring. Of tiie latter I now possess a specimen, and it is marked 

 about the head differently from the French specific description. 

 This circumstance shows how cautious naturalists should be in 

 making species; for even Cuvier, on looking at the skull of one 

 of tiiese rabbits, thought it was probably distinct ! 



The only quadruped native to the island "j" is a large wolf-like 

 fox. (Canis antarcticus), which is common to both East and 



* Lesson's Zoology of tlie Voyaf^e of the Coquille, torn. i. p. iCS. Ail 

 the early voyagers, and especially Bougainville, distinctly state that the 

 ■tt-olf-like fox was the only native animal on the island. The distinction of 

 the rabbit as a species, is taken from peculiarities in the fur, from the shape 

 of the head, and from the shortness of the ears. I may here observ'e that 

 the difference between the Irish and English hare rests upon nearly similar 

 characters, only more strongly marked. 



t 1 have reason, however, to suspi-'Ct that there is a field-mouse. The 

 common European rat and mouse have roamed far from the habitations of 

 thi Settlers. The common hor? has also run wild on one islet: all are of a 

 black colour : the boars arc very fierce, and have great tusks. 



