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margins of rivers and lakes in the southern provinces of Chile, abound- 
ing more in the lakes than in the rivers, where the Typha latifolia 
and Scirpus species are plentiful to give them shelter. During the 
time of copulation, which takes place in September and October, the 
Coypo makes a mournful kind of cry, which somewhat resembles 
that of a young child. I was once riding along the margins of one 
of the streams which enters the river Teno in the province of Col- 
chagna, and my attention was roused by a most melancholy sound, 
which I fancied was from a child in the water, and to my surprise I 
found it arose from a Coypo seated on a dead stump almost on a 
level with the water. I could not help listening for a few minutes 
at the smgular noise, till on a sudden, when the Coypo saw me, it 
disappeared under water. The Coypo possesses a strong attach- 
ment for its young, and swims with them on its back till they are 
sufficiently large to follow the old ones in pursuit of their food. The 
places where the Coypo most abounds in Chile are the borders of 
the river Maypo near Santiago, the capital of the country, also in 
the lakes of ‘Aculeo’ and Quintero. The natives, especially the 
husbandmen, use the skin of this animal to make tobacco-pouches. 
“ Octodon Cumingii, Bennett,—Sciurus Degus, Molina,—Dondro- 
bius Degus, Meyen,—is the most common of all the Chile Rodents. 
It is found in the hedges of the central provinces of Chile, and may 
be seen during the day, but more generally in the afternoon. In 
habits it is tame, and at first sight distinguished from all other spe- 
cies from its activity and by its carrying the tail curved upwards like 
the mountain Lagotis or Viscacha. This little animal hasa very ex- 
tended range: I have seen it as far north as lat. 28°, and in south 
35°, and it may probably extend further, but I do not remember seeing 
it in the provinces of Chiloe or Valdivia. In the province Coquimbo, 
where hedges do not abound, owing to the sterility of the country, 
it inhabits rocky situations, living amongst the loose stones on the 
slopes of mountains; and it is frequently found in the caves or bur- 
rows of the Chinchilla. The natives employed in killing the ‘Chin- 
chillas,’ which are not uncommon about Coquimbo and Huasco, 
before they commence following the burrows, which they do with 
crow-bars, examine the dung of the animals about the caves, and 
from their practical knowledge they distinguish at once if the caves 
are inhabited by the Chinchilla or the Octodon. Nevertheless, as 
both animals often inhabit the same cave, they frequently after great 
labour find it only occupied by the Octodon. From observations 
which my long residence in Chile has given me, I am inclined to 
believe that the Octodon Cumingii does not breed more than twice 
during the year, viz. in spring and autumn, producing from four to six 
young at a birth. ‘The favourite food of the Octodon is herbage near 
the hedges: but in the winter months, when pressed by hunger, it feeds 
on the tender bark of Mimosa Cavenia, also that of Cestrum Palqui. 
“ Schizodon fuscus— Waterh. ‘Proc. Zool. Soc. for November 1841 
—is found in the Valle de las Cuevas, on the eastern side of the 
Andes, about six leagues from the slopes of the volcano of Peteroa, at 
an elevation of from 5—7000 feet, in S. lat. 35°. Its favourite abode 
