482 Zoological Society. 
“The Chinchilla I have never been able to capture, although I 
spent a day or two in Cobija for that purpose. It is entirely a noc- 
turnal animal, never making its appearance during the day, therefore 
it cannot be taken with the gun: its habits and abode are similar to 
the Viscacha. 
“The native hunters of this little animal domesticate the Quique 
of Molina, which they term here Huron, the Spanish for ferret* ; the 
Huron enters the crevices and holes made by the Chinchilla, and 
drives them out, when they are either killed with sticks by the hunt- 
ers or taken by the dogs trained for that purpose. 
“I find near the coast of Bolivia, where scarcely any vegetation 
exists, the Chinchilla lives on the seed-vessel of a tall long-spined 
species of Cereus, which it collects in small piles, and eats during 
the night. ‘These seed-vessels contain a great deal of pulpy sub- 
stance surrounding the seeds, and the exterior is covered with long 
hair. They are shaped like a pear, and are called by the natives 
Pasas canas (hairy figs). The Canis fulvipes I am persuaded does 
not exist in the northern provinces of Chile; had this been the case 
I should have taken it. Molina describes the Culpeo and the Chilla, 
and as I have not his work here I cannot give you his specific names ; 
why not adopt them, as I consider them prior to those of other au- 
thors? On my return to Chile I will consult his work and send you 
them. 
«During my journey in Bolivia I have paid every attention to the 
Mammalia, and only a few days ago I forwarded a box of skins to 
Valparaiso, requesting my friend there to forward three species which 
are highly interesting, and at the same time to me quite new. They 
are— 
‘‘1. Kerodon.—This animal I consider different from K. Kingii; 
it is found in the vicinity of Chuquisaca and Cochabamba in rocky 
places, and not uncommon in fields surrounded by stone walls, in 
which it takes shelter and lives. It is more solitary than K. Kingii, 
as that species I found near Mendoza in what may be termed large 
communities. This animal feeds during the day on grass and herb- 
age, but, I have observed, after the dew is evaporated from the ground. 
The hair of this animal appears, from what I remember, to be more 
coarse and bristly ; however, comparison will decide ; I may perhaps 
be mistaken. Native name, ‘ Conejitof.’ 
«2. A large Rat, with short tail and strong claws}. This curious 
and astonishing animal I first found a few leagues south of Potosi, 
at an elevation of 12,000 feet, in sandy slopes and valleys, at no 
great distance from water. Large patches of land are completely 
undermined by its workings, which are similar to those of Schizodon 
fuscus. I at first concluded that it burrowed for amusement, or the 
change of residence, but on deeper consideration I consider it does 
so in pursuit of bulbs and the roots of grass for food, like Poéphago- 
mys ater. It may be seen working in the morning, throwing out the 
* This is the Galictis vittata of Bell.—G. R. W. 
+ The species referred to is the Cavia cobaia of authors.—G. R. W. 
t Ctenomys braziliensis of De Blainyille—G. R. W. 
