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is near the mountain streams in grassy situations. ‘There are cer- 
tain places in the valley completely undermined by the workings of 
this animal; and whilst we were riding over these districts, our 
horses frequently plunged almost up to their knees in the burrows. 
Whilst rambling in search of the beautiful alpine plants I could not 
help feeling surprise at finding animals of this order in such a locality 
as those elevated valleys, which are covered with snow at least four 
months during the year. The question is, do they on the approach 
of snow-storms migrate towards the verge of the Pampas, or make a 
provision of dried grass and roots for the winter months? I should 
give my opinion in favour of the latter, judging from their enormous 
burrows. The Schizodon fuscus is nocturnal like Poephagomys ater : 
those I procured were shot in the evening near the entrances of their 
caves. I have seen them burrowing and throwing the sand out of 
their caves during the day; but the moment they hear a noise their 
labours cease and they retire deeper into their caves. 
** Notice of the new animal allied to Octodon.—This animal is found 
in the vicinity of the town of Curico, in the province of Colchagua ; 
it inhabits the hedges made of dead bushes, and does not appear to 
burrow, like many other species. The present species may be known 
by the singular chirping or whistling noise which it makes. It forms 
its nest in the decomposing bushes and sometimes on the surface of 
the ground, of dried grass, and appears to live in small communities 
of one or two families. ‘This animal appears to be more rare than 
many other Rodents, as I have never been able to find it in any other 
locality, except the one above mentioned. 
** Poephagomys ater, F. Cuvier; Mus cyanus, Molina.—The Poe- 
phagomys ater is undoubtedly the animal alluded to by Molina under 
the name Mus cyanus; his long description of its habits agrees in 
most respects with the habits of this little animal; but I have never 
yet heard it called by the natives ‘ Guanque’: it is generally known 
in Chile by the name of Cururo and Cuyeita; Guanque is the ver- 
nacular name of a species of Dioscorea on which the ‘Cururo’ subsists. 
Molina is perfectly correct in saying that it stores up a considerable 
quantity of provisions, which consist of the Dioscorea, Conanthera, 
Ornithogalum, Brodiea, and other bulbs and tubers which abound in 
the country. ‘The poorer class of inhabitants being aware of its 
habits, sound the caves or burrows, and rob them of their store, 
which they eat. ‘The jaws of the Cururo are capable of extraordi- 
nary expansion, and by this provision of nature it is enabled to carry 
bulbs and tubers of a large size to its granary. 
“The work of this little animal would surprise a person unac- 
quainted with its habits; I have frequently seen a considerable sur- 
face of ground completely undermined by its burrows. It generally 
selects the slopes of hills and mountains, where bulbs are found, 
especially in the interior parts of the country : its caves are carried 
in a horizontal course, at the depth of eight or ten inches, or rather 
about the depth in which they meet their food. 
‘* This little animal may be considered nocturnal, seldom or ever 
making its appearance during the day ; those which I procured were 
