12 The Naturalist in La Plata. 
wounded and suffering men; and among them the 
mother-coypti is seen with her progeny, numbering 
eight or nine, with as many on her back as she can 
accommodate, while the others swim after her, crying 
for a ride. 
With reference to this animal, which, as we have 
seen, 18 prolific, a strange thing once happened in 
Buenos Ayres. The coypt was much more abun- 
dant fifty years ago than now, and its skin, which 
d TE oe 
TEM 128. LE 
ice ee 
Coypt. 
has a fine fur under the long coarse hair, was largely 
exported to Hurope. About that time the Dictator 
Rosas issued a decree which made the killing of a 
coypt a criminal offence. The result was that the 
animals increased and multiplied exceedingly, and, 
abandoning their aquatic habits, they became ter- 
restrial and migratory, and swarmed everywhere in 
search of food. Suddenly a mysterious malady fell 
on them, from which they quickly perished, and 
became almost extinct. 
