1833.] THE BIZCACHA. 131 



seems probable. In the evening- the bizcachas come out in 

 numbers, and quietly sit at the mouths of their burrows on 

 their haunches. At such times they are very tame, and a 

 man on horseback passing by seems only to present an 

 object for their grave contemplation. They run very 

 awkwardly, and when running out of danger, from their 

 elevated tails and short front legs, much resemble great 

 rats. Their flesh, when cooked, is very white and good, 

 but it is seldom used. 



The bizcacha has one very singular habit ; namely, 

 dragging every hard object to the mouth of its burrow ; 

 around each group of holes many bones of cattle, stones, 

 thistle-stalks, hard lumps of earth, dry dung, etc., are 

 collected into an irregular heap, which frequently amounts 

 to as much as a wheelbarrow would contain. I was credibly 

 informed that a gentleman, when riding on a dark night, 

 dropped his watch ; he returned in the morning, and by 

 searching the neighbourhood of every bizcacha hole on the 

 line of road, as he expected, he soon found it. This habit 

 of picking up whatever may be lying on the ground any- 

 where near its habitation, must cost much trouble. For 

 what purpose it is done, I am quite unable to form even the 

 most remote conjecture : it cannot be for defence, because 

 the rubbish is chiefly placed above the mouth of the burrow, 

 which enters the ground at a very small inclination. No 

 doubt there must exist some good reason ; but the inhabi- 

 tants of the country are quite ignorant of it. The only fact 

 which I know analogous to it, is the habit of that extra- 

 ordinary Australian bird, the Calodera maculaia, which 

 makes an elegant vaulted passage of twigs for playing in, 

 and which collects near the spot, land and sea-shells, bones, 

 and the feathers of birds, especially brightly coloured ones. 

 Mr. Gould, who has described these facts, informs me, that 

 the natives, when they lose any hard object, search the 

 • playing passages, and he has known a tobacco-pipe thus 

 recovered. 



The little owl {Athene cunicularia), which has been so often 

 mentioned, on the plains of Buenos Ayres exclusively 

 inhabits the holes of the bizcacha ; but in Banda Oriental it 

 is its own workman. During the open day, but more 

 especially in the evening, these birds may be seen in every 

 direction standing frequently by pairs on the hillock near 

 their burrows. If disturbed they either enter the hole, or, 

 uttering a shrill harsh cry, move with a remarkably 



