MAMMALS. 157 



some respects to L. pallipes. They diifer decidedly from the Lagotis (Lagidium) criniger, of 

 Gay, both in the skin and the skull ; hut of the affinities of this last-mentioned species with 

 L. pallipes, I can say nothing. Gay, however, mentions ^. pallipes, and considers the two 

 sufficiently distinct. 



This species is said to be quite common on the Cordilleras of Chile and Peru, living at an 

 elevation of from five to fifteen thousand feet. The soft and fine fur is highly prized, and, 

 mixed with wool, is woven into warm stufPs of various kinds. The skins are, however, less 

 valuable than those of the true Chinchilla. OhincMUa lanigera is, however, also found in the 

 Cordilleras of Chile and Peru. 



The name of Viscacha is applied in Brazil to the Lagostomus trichodactylus. 



SPALACOPUS POEPPIGII, Wagl. 



Spalacopus poeppigii, Wagler, Isis, 1832, 1219. 



Waterb-ouse, Nat. Hist, of Mammalia, II, 1848, 269, PL ix, fig. 1. 

 Poephagomys ater, F. Cuv. Ann. des Sc. Nat. n. ser. I, 1834, 321^ PL xiii. 

 Waterhoxjse, Zool. of Beagle, Mammalia, 1839, 82. 

 Eydoux et Geevais, Voy. de la Favorite, V, Zoologie, 1839, 17, PL vii. 

 Gat, Historia de Chile, Zoologia, I, 1847, 103. 

 Fsammoryctes noctivagtis, Poeppig, in Wieg. Archiv, I, 1835, 252. 



Wagner, Suppl. Schreb. Saiig. Ill, 1843, 318. 

 Fsammomys, Poeppig, Eeise, I, 1835, 166. 

 VuLG. Cururo, Curiccho, Cuyeita. 

 The collections of Lieutenant Gilliss included several specimens of this curious species, which 

 most probably is the Mus cyanus of Molina. It appears to be quite abundant in many parts 

 of Chile, from Copiapo to Cauquenes, and has, to a considerable extent, the habits of the 

 gopher, or pouched rat ( Geomys), of North America. It excavates long passages in search of 

 •various bulbous roots, which form its principal food, consisting chiefly of a species of Dioscorea, 

 or "guanque." The burrows are carried along at a depth of about ten inches, terminating at 

 times in expanded chambers, used as storehouses. The cheeks are capable of great extension, 

 although the species is destitute of the external cheek pouches, which render our pouched rats 

 so conspicuous among rodents. The incisor teeth are very thick and strong. 



These granaries of the Cururo are often robbed by the poorer inhabitants of Chile for the 

 sake of the store of edible roots they are found to contain. The animal is seldom seen in the 

 day-time, unless in cloudy weather. 



MYOPOTAMTJS COYPUS, Geoff. 



Mus coypus, Molina, Saggio, 1782, 287. 



3fus castoroides, Barrow, Linn. Trans. X, 1812, 168. 



Myopotamus coypus, (Commers,) Geoff. Ann. du Mus. VI, 1805, 81. 



Cuv. R. Anim. I, 214. 



Waterhouse, Zool. of Beagle, Mammalia, 1839, 78. 



Ib. Nat. Hist. Mammalia II, 1848, 297, PL xv, fig. 1. 



Wagner, Suppl. Schreber, IV, 1844, 12. 



Gat, Historia de Chile, Zoologia, I, 1847, 122. 

 Hydromys coypus, Geoff. Ann. du Mus. 



Desm. Mamm. 1822, 296. 

 Potaniys coypou, Desm. Diet, des Sc. Nat. XLIV, 491. 



