i8o 



To the River Plate and Back 



The evening before Dr. Roth had entertained us with 

 an account of the habits of the carpincho (Ilydrochoerus 

 capybara) , the huge rodent of these regions, which is still 

 not uncommon in the delta. It is as large as a pig, the 

 biggest rodent now known to exist, though once there 

 were animals (Diprotodon) belonging to the Roden- 

 tia as large as oxen. The carpincho is nocturnal in 



aaew-'-RMtiKV' i'-jtmt,. w ',. -v, 'JJt . 







Fig. 13 Carpinchos (Hydrochasrus capybara). ^ nat. size. 



its habits. The good Doctor told us that when engaged 

 in surveying the country he had at one time in his 

 employment a man whose highest delight was to hunt 

 carpinchos at night. He was " carpincho-crazy, ' and 

 after having worked hard all day, would hurriedly eat 

 his supper, and then sneak off in a rowboat and spend 

 the whole night waiting in the darkness at some likely 

 spot to get a shot at the animals. The flesh is said not 

 to be very palatable, and the hides have comparatively 

 small value, being chiefly used in making the under sides 

 of the native saddles, or straps in harness. 'Keep 

 your eyes open for carpinchos," said the Doctor, "you 

 may catch sight of the animals hereabouts. ' As luck 

 would have it we did not see any of the beasts, but 

 within a hundred yards of the farmhouse we came 



