Dr. Rengger's Mammalia of Paraguay. 467 



Art. LXIV. Analytical Notices of Books. 



JYaturgesckichle der Sdugethiere von Paraguay, S^-c. The A'aturcd 

 History of the Mammalia of Paraguay. By Dr. J. R. Rengger. 

 Basel, 1830. 8vo. pp. xvi, and 394. 



This work may be regarded as a commentary and a supplement to that 

 of D'Azara, whose deficiencies as a naturalist the authour points out 

 in his preface, at the same time that he gives him his due praise for zeal, 

 perseverance, and accuracy of observation. It was during a residence of 

 six years in Paraguay, the difficulty of access to, or rather of return 

 from, which has of late years thrown such an air of mystery over every 

 thing connected with it, that Dr. Rengger collected the materials of the 

 present publication. His usual place of abode was Asuncion, the me- 

 tropolis of the country ; but some months of every year were passed by 

 him in visiting its less populous or wholly uninhabited districts, with the 

 view of making himself acquainted with its natural history. In this 

 pursuit he received considerable assistance from the companion of his 

 journey Dr. Longchamp, and from Dr. Parlet, an Englishman who 

 died in the neighbourhood of Asuncion, in the year 1824. His col- 

 lections appear to have been very considerable, but the suspicions of Dr. 

 Francia, the Dictator of Paraguay, rendered it impossible to transmit 

 them to Europe, and the greater part consequently went to decay. 

 When he at length received from the caprice of the Dictator permission 

 to depart, only two hours were allowed to him for preparation, and he 

 was consequently unable to bring away with him more than a small part 

 of what still remained ; the rest was confided to some trusty friends, but 

 no tidings of them have since been obtained. His materials for a His- 

 tory of the Quadrupeds of Paraguay consist of descriptions taken on the 

 spot from both living and dead individuals, frequently repeated in 

 order to secure their accuracy; of written notes of their manners both at 

 large and in captivity ; of anatomical observations and drawings ; and of 



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