252 
FALKLAND ISLAND AGUARA DOG. 
Dusicyon Antarticus. 
PLATE XXIII. 
Tue Lyciscus cagottis, before described, appeared to 
us identical with the present species ; being induced 
to form this conclusion from seeing, in the fur stores 
of Mr G. Astor at New York, a large collection of 
peltry, which came from the Falkland Islands, 
where, according to the reports that gentleman had 
received, his hunters had nearly extirpated the 
species.* All we saw were alike in colour and 
proportions, somewhat smaller than the Cagottis, 
equally low in proportion, with rather bulkier 
bodies; the tail not reaching to the ground, with a 
white tip; but the fur of the back was darker 
brown than the specimen figured in the Zoology of 
* He had been assured, and we believe to have seen in some 
ancient accounts of our earlier expeditions to the South Seas, 
or in the wanderings of the Buccaneers, that the Falkland 
Island wolf had originally been set on shore there by the 
Spaniards, with a view to prevent foreign nations finding fresh 
provisions at the anchorages: the information stated further, 
that the wolves had nearly destroyed an indigenous fox, and 
taken possession of its burrows. Although the first part may 
be only seamen’s tales, the last appears to be so far true, that 
a smaller and now a rare species of canine is found on the 
western Falkland Island, 
