826 MR. W. H. HUDSON ON THE [NoV. 19, 



up to scrutinize the stranger, and will then often permit him to walk 

 within five or six paces of them. 



Standing on the mound there is frequently a pair of Burrowing 

 Owls (Phuleoptynx cunieularia). These birds generally make their 

 own burrows to breed in, or sometimes take possession of one of the 

 lesser outside burrows of the village ; but their favourite residence, 

 when not engaged in tending their eggs or young, is on the vizca- 

 chera. Here a pair will sit all day ; and I have often remarked a 

 couple close together on the edge of the burrow ; and when the Viz- 

 cacha came out in the evening, though but a hand's breadth from 

 them, they did not stir, nor did he notice them, so accustomed are 

 these creatures to each other. Usually a couple of the little bur- 

 rowing Geositta are also present. They are lively creatures, running 

 with great rapidity about the mound and bare space that surrounds 

 it, suddenly stopping and jerking their tails in a slow deliberate 

 manner, and occasionally uttering their cry, a trill, or series of quick 

 short clear notes, resembling somewhat the shrill excessive laughter 

 of a child. Among the grave, stationary Vizcachas of which they 

 take no heed, perhaps half a dozen or more little Swallows (Atticora 

 cyanoleuca) are seen, now clinging altogether to the bank-like en- 

 trance of a burrow, now hovering over it in a moth-like manner, as 

 if uncertain where to alight, and anon sweeping about in circles, but 

 never ceasing their low and sorrowful notes. 



The vizcachera with all its incongruous inhabitants thus collected 

 upon it is to a stranger one of the most novel sights the pampas afford. 



The Vizcacha appears to be a rather common species over all the 

 extensive Argentine territory ; but they are so exceedingly abundant 

 on the pampas inhabited by man, and comparatively so rare in the 

 desert places I have been in, that I was at first much surprised at 

 finding" them so unequally distributed. I have also mentioned that 

 the Vizcacha is a tame familiar creature. This is in the pastoral 

 districts, where they are never disturbed ; but in wild regions, where 

 he is scarce, he is exceedingly wary, coming forth long after dark, and 

 plunging into his burrow on the slightest alarm, so that it is a rare 

 thing to get a sight of him. The reason is evident enough : in 

 desert regions the Vizcacha has several deadly enemies in the larger 

 rapacious Mammals. Of these the Puma or Lion (Felis concolor) is 

 the most numerous, as it is also the swiftest, most subtle, and most 

 voracious ; for, as regards these traits, the Jaguar ( F. onca) is an 

 inferior animal. To the insatiable bloody appetite of this creature 

 nothing comes amiss ; he takes the male ostrich by surprise, and slays 

 that wariest of wild things on his nest ; he captures little birds with 

 the dexterity of a cat, and hunts for diurnal Armadillos ; he comes 

 unawares upon the Deer and Guanaco, and, springing like lightning 

 on them, dislocates their necks before their bodies touch the earth. 

 Often after he has thus slain them, he leaves their bodies untouched 

 for the Polyborvs and Vulture to feast on, so great a delight does he 

 take in destroying life*. The Vizcacha falls an easy victim to this 



* The character of this animal (Felis concolor) has, I believe, been always 

 misunderstood, and its true history is consequently yet unwritten. Of (he fable* 



