Biography of the Vrscacha. 307 
Often he utters this cry in a low grunting tone. 
One of his commonest expressions sounds like the 
violent hawking of a man clearing his throat. At 
other times he bursts into piercing tones that may 
be heard a mile off, beginning lke the excited and 
quick-repeated squeals of a young pig, and growing 
longer, more attenuated, and quavering towards the 
end. After retiring alarmed into the burrows, he 
repeats at intervals a deep internal moan. All 
these, and many other indescribable guttural, sighing, 
shrill, and deep tones, are varied a thousand ways 
in strength and intonation, according to the age, 
sex, or emotions of the individual; and I doubt if 
there is in the world any other four-footed thing so 
loquacious, or with a dialect so extensive. I take 
great pleasure in going to some spot where they 
are abundant, and sitting quietly to listen to them ; 
for they are holding a perpetual discussion all night 
long, which the presence of a human being will not 
interrupt. 
At night, when the vizcachas are all out feeding, 
in places where they are very abundant (and in some 
districts they literally swarm) any very loud and 
sudden sound, as the report of a gun, or a clap of 
unexpected thunder, will produce a most extraordi- 
nary effect. No sooner has the report broken on 
the stillness of night than a perfect storm of cries 
bursts forth over the surrounding country. After 
eight or nine seconds there is in the storm a 
momentary lull or pause; and then it breaks forth 
again, apparently louder than before. There is so 
much difference in the tones of different animals 
that the cries of individuals close at hand may be 
x2 
