68 AZAKA'S DOG. 



part of South America east of the Andes ; but we know now that it 

 occurs on both sides of that mountain-chain. Rengger tells us that in 

 Paraguay it dwells in bushy districts, whence it makes excursions 

 into the great forest on the one hand, and into the open country on 

 the other, seeking its prey in the twilight and at night. Its food 

 consists of small quadrupeds and birds ; but it does not refuse frogs 

 and lizards, while it occasions great damage amongst the sugar-canes 

 by the quantity it bites through and wastes, only eating that part 

 which it finds to be the sweetest. This careful observer sometimes, 

 when camping out at night, was able in bright moonlight to study the 

 animal, and, when in a locality where ducks were kept, noticed its 

 cautious approach always against the wind, by which means it would 

 be the better warned of danger, and its own, often disagreeable, odour 

 be less perceived. After thus approaching its prey with great care and 

 circumspection, it would suddenly spring on a duck, seizing it by the 

 neck so that it could not cry out. It would then make off, holding up 

 its victim as much as it could, that obstacles might the less impede its 

 retreat. If alarmed, during its approach, by the smell of man or dog, 

 it would quickly retreat to the bush, and later make another approach 

 by a different route, repeating the attempt four or five times. On one 

 occasion, after Rengger had been thus robbed of a duck, he had the 

 animal watched for several nights : nothing was seen of it, although 

 its footprints were visible in the morning. The first night this watch 

 was relaxed, a fatal visit was made to the hen-roost. 



When hunting its prey the creature runs with its nose to the earth 

 like a hound, but every now and then raises its head to the wind. 



In summer and autumn these animals go about in a solitary manner ; 

 but in winter the sexes associate, and then at night and in the evening 

 their loud cries are to be heard. But they are also to be heard at other 

 seasons, especially when a change in the weather begins. 



The male and female inhabit the same nest, which is sometimes 

 made in the densest scrub, sometimes under the roots of trees, and 

 sometimes in the abandoned burrow of an armadillo ; but they do not 

 make an earth for themselves, as European foxes do. In the spring 

 the female brings forth from three to five young, rarely leaving her 



