27 



This opinion is confirmed by ihe common tradi- 

 tji>n'> of llip countrv ; and i have been informed 

 of cii-ht \ir-\y species that have been discovered 

 a(: various liinc; ; but as the descriptions I have 

 received of llicra have been very imperfect^ and 

 ih'^ ajiiiuals have beea seen but by few, I have 

 tlioui^ht them not sufiiciently characterized to 

 merit a place among' those v/hose economy is 

 well known. 



Such, for instance, is the piguchen, a winged 

 quadruped^ or species of large bat, which, if its 

 existence is real, forms a very important link, 

 between birds and quadrupeds. This animal is 

 said to be of the size and shape of a tame rab- 

 bit, and to be covered with fine hair of a cinna- 

 mon colour; the nose sharp, the eyes round and 

 shinini!', the ears almost invisible, the wings 

 membraiiaeeoiis, the paws short and like tho^e 

 of the lizard, the tail round at the root, and 

 ending like that of a fish. It inhabits holes in 

 trees, whicli it leaves only at night, and does 

 no injury to any tiling but insects,, which serve 

 it for food. 



Of this kind is likewise the hippopotamus of 

 the rivers and the lakes of Arauco, which is dif- 

 ferent from that of AtVica, and in iti form and 

 stature resembles the horse, but the feet are 

 palniated like those of the seal. The existence 

 of this animal is universal! v credited through- 

 evi the countrv, and there are soms perscus whs' 



