THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



NATURAL HISTORY 



MARCH, 1840. 



Art. I — View of the Fauna of Brazil, anterior to the last Geologi- 

 cal Revolution. By Dr. Lund.' 



( Continued from page 67 ). 



Next to the bats and rodents the most important family with 

 reference to the abundant relics that one species has left in 

 the caves, is that of the Marsupials : and of these the Didel- 

 phis murinus has been already alluded to, in specifying the 

 contents of the heaps of bones introduced by the owls. 



Of the family of Pachydermata, there is one genus in Bra- 

 zil [Dicotyles), the species of which both habitually frequent 

 caves, and also use them as places of refuge from their ene- 

 mies. I have accordingly remarked their traces in many 

 caverns, and have even followed them far into their dark pas- 

 sages ; whereas I have only very rarely met with their bones 

 there. I have in vain sought for either remains or foot-prints 

 of the tapir, whence I conclude that it does not take refuge in 

 caves. 



Of Ruminants there is also only one genus in Brazil, that 

 of Cervus, which contains five species, whereof one, of the 

 size of the musk, is undescribed. This animal does not pe- 

 netrate into the caverns ; but when their entrances form a 

 spacious chamber, its footsteps may be frequently seen there. 

 Only in Lappa Nova de Maquine have I discovered the re- 

 mains of a single individual of that genus {Cervus rufus), and 

 in my account of that cave I have already endeavoured to ex- 

 plain the circumstances of its discovery. I will only add here 

 that subsequent experience has confirmed me in the opinion 

 I there expressed. I have since observed in many caves that 

 lay near to the habitations of man, the uninjured skeletons of 

 several domestic animals, especially oxen and goats, the exa- 



^ Translated from the Danish, and communicated by the Rev. W. Bil- 

 ton, F. E. S. 



Vol. IV.— No. 39. n. s. m 



