70 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



THE COYPU RAT. 



The Coypu Rat, or Racoonda, as it Is sometimes called, 

 furnishes the fur known in commerce as Nutria. But one 

 species is known^ which is a native of South America, and is 

 found in great numbers in the La Plata region. In general 

 appearance and character it resembles the beaver. Its tail, 

 however, instead of being flattened, is long^^round, and rat- 

 like. Its favorite haunts are the lagoons of the plains or 

 pampas, and the banks of rivers and streams. Its fur is 

 short, fine, silkv, similar to that of the beaver, and light 

 brown in color. Overlying the fur are long hairs of a brown- 

 ish yellow color. The fur is lieaviest and best on the belly. 

 It is used for the same purpose as that of the beaver, in the 

 manufacture of hats and caps. The Coypu is about two feet 

 long exclusive of tail, which is about fifteen inches in length. 

 It is veiy prolific, the female producing six or seven at a birth. 

 They feed on vegetables, are quite gentle in their character, 

 and easily tamed. They inhabit South America on both sides 

 of the Andes : on the east, from Peru to forty-three degrees 

 south latitude ; on the west, from Central Chili to Terra del 

 Fuego. They are also found in the small bays and channels 

 of the archipelagos along the coast. They are burrowing 

 animals, and form their habitations in the banks of lakes and 

 streams. They are nocturnal in their habits, and seem to be 

 equally at home in fresh or salt water. 



The Coypu is usually hunted with dogs, and is easily cap- 

 tured. It is, however, a bold animal, and fights fiercely with 

 the dog employed in pursuing it. We cannot learn that any 

 attempt has been made to take them by the steel-trap, but 

 this would no doubt prove the best and easiest method of cap- 

 ture. Their habits resemble those of the beaver and muskrat, 

 and they should be trapped on the same general principles. 

 Great numbers of the skins of this animal are annually ex- 

 ported. In some seasons the number has been over three 

 millions, constituting an important branch of the fur-trade. 



