50 MALDONADO. [chap. hi. 



of fresh-water lakes and rivers. Near Maldonado three or 

 four generally live together. In the daytime they either lie 

 among the aquatic plants, or openly feed on the turf plain.* 

 When viewed at a distance, from their manner of talking 

 and colour they resemble pigs : but when seated on tlieir 

 haunches, and attentively watching any object with one eye, 

 tliey reassume the appearance of their congeners, cavies and 

 rabbits. Both the front and side vie.w of their head has quite 

 a ludicrous aspect, from the great depth of their jaw. These 

 animals, at Maldonado, were very lame; by cautiously walk- 

 ing, I approached within three yards of four old ones. This 

 tameness may probably be accounted for, by the Jaguar having 

 been banished for some years, and by the Gaucho not thinking 

 it worth his while to hunt them. As I approached nearer and 

 nearer they frequently made their peculiar noise, which is a low 

 abrupt grunt, not having much actual sound, but rather arising 

 from tlie sudden expulsion of air: the only noise I know at all 

 like it, is the first hoarse bark of a large dog. Having watched 

 the four from almost within arm's length (and they me) for 

 several minutes, they rushed into the water at full gallop with 

 the greatest impetuosity, and emitted at the same time their 

 bark. After diving a short distance they came again to the 

 surface, but only just bhowed the upper part of their heads. 

 When the female is swimming in the water, and ha-s young ones, 

 they are said to sit on her back. These animals are easily killed 

 in numbers ; but tlieir skins are of trifling value, and the meat is 

 very indifferent. On the islands in the Rio Parana they are 

 exceedingly abundant, and afford the ordinary prey to the 

 tTaguar. 



The Tucutuco (Ctenomys Brasiliensis) is a cirious small 

 animal, which may be briefly described as a Gnavrer, with the 

 habits of a mole. It is extremely numerous in some parts of the 

 country, but is difficult to be procured, and never, I believe, 

 conies out of the ground. It throws up at the m^uth of its 



* In the stomach and duodenum of a capybara which I opened, I found a 

 very large quantity of a thin yellowish fluid, in which scarcely a fibre could 

 be distinguished. Mr. Owen informs me that a part of the oesophagus is so 

 constructed that nothing much larger than a crowquill can be passed down. 

 Certainly the broad teeth and strong jaws of this animal are well ^itad tc 

 grind into pulp the aquatic plants on vvhich it feeds. 



