" The Chinchilla I have never been able to capture, although I 

 spent a day or two in Cobija for that purpose. It is entirely a noc- 

 turnal ariimal, never making its appearance during the day, therefore 

 it cannot be taken with the gun : its habits and abode are similar to 

 the Viscacha. 



" The native hunters of this little animal domesticate the Quique 

 of Molina, -vvhich they term here Huron, the Spanish for feiTct* ; the 

 Huron enters the crevices and holes mada by the Chinchilla, and 

 drives thera out, when they are either killed with sticks by the hunt- 

 ers or taken by the dogs trained for that purpose. 



" I find near the coast of Bolivia, \vhere scarcely any vegetation 

 exists, the Chinchilla lives on the seed-vessel of a tall long-spined 

 species of Cereus, -vvhich it coUects in small pilės, and eats during 

 the night. These seed-vessels contain a great deal of pulpy sub- 

 stance surrounding the seeds, and the exterior is covered \vith long 

 hair. They are shaped likę a pear, and are called by the natives 

 Pasas canas (hairy figs). The Canis fulvipes I am persuaded does 

 not exist in the northern provinces of Chile ; had this been the case 

 I should have taken it. Molina describes the Culpeo and the Chilla, 

 and as I have not his work here I cannot give you his specific names ; 

 why not adopt them, as I consider them prior to those of other au- 

 thors ? On my return to Chile I will consult his •nork and send you 

 them. 



" During my journey in Bolivia I have paid ever}' attention to the 

 Mammalia, and only a fe\v days ago I forwarded a box of skins to 

 Valparaiso, reąuesting my friend there to forvvard three species which 

 are highly interesting, and at the šame time to me quite new. They 

 are — 



" 1. Kerodon. — This animal I consider different from K. Kingii ; 

 it is found in the vicinity of Chuąuisaca and Cochabamba in rocky 

 places, and not uncommon in fields surrounded by stone vi-alls, in 

 vvhich it takes shelter and lives. It is raore solitary tban K. Kingii, 

 as that species I found near Mendoza in what may be termcd large 

 communities. This animal feeds during the day on grass and herb- 

 age, but, I have observed, after the dew is evaporated from the ground. 

 The hair of this animal appears, from \vhat I remember, to be more 

 coarse and bristly ; however, comparison will decide ; I may perhaps 

 be mistaken. Native name, 'Conejitof.' 



" 2. A large Rat, with short tail and strong claws J. This curious 

 and astonishing animal I first found a few leagues south of Potosi, 

 at an elevation of 12,000 feet, in sandy slopes and valleys, at no 

 great distance from water. Large patches of land are completely 

 undermined by its \vorkings, -n'hich are similar to those of ScMzodon 

 fuscvs. I at first concluded that it burrowed for amusement, or the 

 change of residence, but on deeper consideration I consider it does 

 so in pursuit of bulbs and the roots of grass for food, likę Po'ėphago- 

 mys ater. It may be seen working in the morning, throvving out the 



* This is the Galictis vitlata of Bell.— G. R. W. 



t The species referred to is the Cavia cobaia of authors. — G. R. W. 



X Ctenomys Braziliensis of De Blainville. — G R. W. 



