152 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



in their motions, an apparent affectation of fear, almost ludicrous 

 to see. Foxes, Weasels, and Opossums fared sumptuously. 

 Even for the Common Armadillo (Dasypua rillosus) it was a 

 season of affluence, for this creature is very adroit in capturing 

 mice. This fact might seem surprising to anyone who marks the 

 uncouth figure, toothless gums, and the motions — anything but 

 light and graceful — of the Armadillo; and perhaps fancying 

 that, to be a dexterous mouser, an animal should bear some 

 resemblance in habits and structure to the Felidoe. But animals, 

 like men, are compelled to adapt themselves to their sur- 

 roundings ; new habits are acquired, and the exact co-relation 

 between habit and structure is seldom maintained. 



I kept an Armadillo at this time, and good cheer and the 

 sedentary life he led in captivity made him excessively fat ; but 

 the mousing exploits of even this individual were most inte- 

 resting. Occasionally I took him into the fields to give him a 

 taste of liberty, though at such times I always took the precaution 

 to keep hold of a cord fastened to one of his hind legs ; for as 

 often as he came to a kennel of one of his wild fellows, he would 

 attempt to escape into it. He invariably travelled with an 

 ungainly trotting gait, carrying his nose, beagle-like, close to 

 the ground. His sense of smell was exceedingly acute, and 

 when near his prey he became agitated, and quickened his 

 motions, pausing frequently to sniff the earth, till, discovering 

 the exact spot where the mouse lurked, he would stop and creep 

 cautiously to it ; then, after slowly raising himself to a sitting 

 posture, spring suddenly forwards, throwing his body like a 

 trap over the mouse, or nest of mice, concealed beneath the 

 grass. 



In the autumn of the year countless numbers of Storks 

 (Ciconia maguari) and of Short-eared Owls (Otus brachyotw) 

 made their appearance. They had also come to assist at the 

 general feast. 



Eemembering the opinion of Mr. E. Newman, quoted by 

 Darwin, that two-thirds of the Humble Bees in England are 

 annually destroyed by mice, I determined to continue observing 

 these insects, in order to ascertain whether the same thing 

 occurred on the Pampas. I carefully revisited all the nests 

 I had found, and was amazed at the rapid disappearance of all 

 the Bees. I was quite convinced that the mice had devoured or 



