252 



FALKLAND ISLAND AGUARA DOG. 



Dusicyon Aniurticus. 



PLATE XXin. 



The Lyciscus cagottis^ before described, appeared t6 

 us identical with the present species ; being induced 

 to form this conclusion from seeing, in the fur stores 

 of Mr G. Astor at New York, a large collection of 

 peltry, which came from the Falkland Islands, 

 where, according to the reports that gentleman had 

 received, his hunters had nearly extirpated the 

 species.* All we saw were alike in colour and 

 proportions, somewhat smaller than the Cagottis, 

 equally low in proportion, with rather bulkier 

 bodies ; the tail not reaching to the ground, with a 

 white tip ; but the fur of the back was darker 

 brown than the specimen figured in the Zoology of 



* He had been assured, and we believe to have seen in some 

 ancient accounts of our earlier expeditions to the South Seas, 

 or in the wanderings of the Buccaneers, that the Falkland 

 Island wolf had originally been set on shore there by the 

 Spaniards, with a view to prevent foreign nations finding fresh 

 provisions at the anchorages : the information stated fiulher, 

 that the wolves had nearly destroyed an indigenous fox, and 

 taken possession of its burrows. Although the first part may 

 be only seamen's tales, the last appears to be so far true, that 

 a smaller and now a rare species of canine is found on the 

 western Falkland Island. 



