POPAYAN AND THE CERRO MUXCHIQUE 33 



and next morning a fine white opossum of large size had 

 been safely ensnared. In the days that followed we secured 

 an even dozen of the animals. They proved to be a form 

 unknown to science that now bears the name Didelphis 

 paraguaycnsis andina. The cook said that they were de- 

 licious eating, and prepared for us an unusually fat indi- 

 vidual; but we found the meat of rather strong flavor, and 

 not very palatable. A solitary weasel (Mustela affinis cos- 

 taricensis) was also taken in the same spot. It would be 

 interesting to know whether this animal came down to 

 drink, or was in pursuit of some of the other creatures that 

 frequented the runway. Weasels are courageous, active, 

 and bloodthirsty little animals; their eyesight is poor, but 

 their sense of smell is keen and they will tirelessly follow 

 their intended victim until it falls into their clutches. I 

 have frequently heard that they attack and kill small deer 

 by clinging to the neck and doggedly chewing their way 

 through the skin until the jugular vein is severed; this 

 does not seem probable to me, however, and it is far more 

 reasonable to believe that rats, mice, frogs, and other small 

 creatures form the bulk of their prey. On account of their 

 slender proportions, they can trail the quarry through 

 small holes and crevices; in addition, they are also expert 

 climbers. On one occasion, while "squeaking" to attract a 

 bird, a weasel came instead, looking for the supposed help- 

 less creature, and ran over my feet without suspecting the 

 fraud. 



They will fight savagely to protect their nest, usually 

 made in a hole in the ground or hollow stump, and I know 

 of one instance where one of the animals sprang into the 

 face of a native who had trapped its mate at the mouth 

 of a burrow. 



Nearly a month had passed since we left Popayan, but 

 the time had been spent so pleasantly and profitably that 

 it seemed scarcely longer than a week. Our scheduled time 

 for the region had been exhausted, however, so we reluc- 

 tantly retraced our steps to Popayan. 



