241 



i unify offers for one of them to seize it by ihc 

 tail at>d Ik-^I it suspended. In this position the 

 muscles becoinii)^ contracted, tlie animal is un- 

 iihlv U) eject tlie {\uk\, and is dispiitched with 

 s'if.'ty. Tlie chinghue, howevcFj never has re- 

 course to this mode of annoyance against those 

 of its own species, but employs in lighting with 

 thfui its teeth and claws. It preys upon eg-gs 

 and poultry, which it is very dexterous iii taking*. 

 Its skin is closely covered with very soft lonp* 

 hair, and retains notliing of" that offensive smell 

 whieii mi'^'ht n:itur'iily be supposed The In- 

 dian^, when they can obtain a sufficient number 

 of these skins, make of them coverings for their 

 beds, which they value highly for their beauty 

 and the softness of the hair. 



Tlie c?(7a(mu stela cuja) is a small animal re- 

 sembling a ferret in its size, form, and teeth, and 

 also in the disposition of its toes, and its manner 

 of living. The eyes are black, and the nose a 

 little turned up ai the end like a hog's ; its hair 

 is black, thick, and extremely soft, and the taii_, 

 wiiich is of the length of its body, is closely co- 

 vered with it. Its principal food is mice, which 

 it is in constant pursuit of The female breeds 

 twice a year, and has four or five young at a 

 birth. 



The quiqui (mustcla quiqui) is a species of 

 weasel of a brown colour, thirteen inches long 

 from the nose to the tail. Tbs head is fiat the 



VOL. I. R 



