Biography of the Vizcacha. 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 like 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 vizcacbas 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 



