i ee 
Dr. Rengger’s Mammalia of Paraguay. 467 
Arr. LXIV. Analytical Notices of Books. 
Naturgeschichie der Stugethiere von Paraguay, §c. The Natural 
History of the Mammalia of Paraguay. By Dr. J. R. RENGGER. 
Basel, 1830. 8vo. pp. xvi, and 394. 
Tuts work may be regarded as a commentary and a supplement to that 
of D’Azara, whose deficiencies as a naturalist the authour points out 
in his preface, at the same time that he gives him his due praise for zeal, 
perseverance, and accuracy of observation. It was during a residence of 
six years in Paraguay, the difficulty of access to, or rather of return 
from, which has of late years thrown such an air of mystery over every 
thing connected with it, that Dr. Rengger collected the materials of the 
present publication. His usual place of abode was Asuncion, the me- 
tropolis of the country ; but some months of every year were passed by 
him in visiting its Jess populous or wholly uninhabited districts, with the 
view of making himself acquainted with its natural history. In this 
pursuit he received considerable assistance from the companion of his 
journey Dr. Longchamp, and from Dr. Parlet, an Englishman who 
died in the neighbourhood of Asuncion, in the year 1824, His col- 
lections appear to have been very considerable, but the suspicions of Dr. 
Francia, the Dictator of Paraguay, rendered it impossible to transmit 
them to Europe, and the greater part consequently went to decay. 
When he at length received from the caprice of the Dictator permission 
to depart, only two hours were allowed to him for preparation, and he 
was consequently unable to bring away with him more than a small part 
of what still remained ; the rest was confided to some trusty friends, but 
no tidings of them have since been obtained. His materials for a His- 
tory of the Quadrupeds of Paraguay consist of descriptions taken on the 
spot from both living and dead individuals, frequently repeated in 
order to secure their accuracy; of written notes of their manners both at 
large and in captivity; of anatomical observations and drawings; and of 
Vo. V. HH 2 
