726 THE BIZCACIIA. 



NATA CATTLE. 

 Darwin mentions a remarkable breed of cows called the 

 nata or niata. The animal has a very short and broad fore- 

 head, with the nasal end turned up, and the U})per lip much 

 drawn back. Its lower jaw projects below the upper, and 

 has a coiTesponding upward curve ; hence its teeth are always 

 exposed. Its nostrils are seated high up, and are very open; 

 and the eyes are projecting. When walking, it carries its 

 head low on a short neck ; and its hind-legs are rather longer 

 compared with the front ones than is usual. 

 : The breed is supposed to have originated amongst the 

 Indians southward of the La Plata. It is fiercer than common 

 cattle ; and the cow easily deserts her first calf if molested or 

 visited too often. Now, it is a singular fact that an almost 

 similar structure to the abnormal one of the niata breed 

 characterizes the great extinct ruminant of India — the siva- 

 therium. The breed is very true, and the niata bull and cow 

 invariably produce niata calves. " Can it be that this animal 

 is an aboriginal of the continent, and existed ages before the 

 European breeds were introduced ? " asks Mr. Darwin. 



THE Bi;5CACHA. 



The careless horseman on the Pampas soon becomes dis- 

 agreeably acquainted with the existence of a little rodent — the 

 bizcacha — into whose closely-set burrows should his horse step, 

 he will to a certainty find himself pitched over his steed's 

 head. It closely resembles a rabbit, but with larger gnawing 

 teeth and a longer tail. It has only three toes behind, like the 

 agouti. The creatures are seen in great numbers during the 

 evenins_^ seated on theii" haunches in front of their abodes, 



