50 MALDONADO. ‘[crtar. boa 
of fresh-water lakes and rivers. Near Maldonado three or 
four generally live together. In the daytime they either lie 
among the aquatic plants, or openly feed on the turf plain.* 
When viewed at a distance, from their manner of walking 
and colour they resemble pigs: but when seated on their 
haunches, and attentively watching any object with one eye, 
they reassume the appearance of their congeners, cavies and 
rabbits. Both the front and side view of their head has quite 
a ludicrous aspect, from the great depth of their jaw. These 
animals, at Maldonado, were very tame; by cautiously walk- 
ing, I approached within three yards of four old ones. ‘This 
tameness may probably be accounted for, by the Jaguar having 
been banished for some years, and by the Gaucho not thinking 
it worth his while to hunt them. As I approached nearer and 
nearer they frequently made their peculiar noise, which is a low 
abrupt grunt, not having much actual sound, but rather arising 
from the sudden expulsion of air: the only noise I know at all 
like it, is the first hoarse bark of a large dog. Having watched 
the four from almost within arm’s length (and they me) for 
several minutes, they rushed inte the water at full gallop with 
the greatest impetuosity, and emitted at the same time their 
bark. After diving a short distance they came again to the 
surface, but only just suowed the upper part of their heads. 
When the female is swimming in the water, and has young ones, 
they are said to sit on her back. These animals are easily killed 
in numbers ; but their skins are of trifling value, and the meat is 
very indifferent. On the islands in the Rio Parana they are 
exceedingly abundant, and afford the ordinary prey to the 
Jaguar. ’ 
The Tucutuco (Ctenomys Brasiliensis) is a curious smal] 
animal, which may be briefly described as a Gnawer, with the 
habits of a mole. It is extremely numerous in some parts of the 
country, but is difficult to be procured, and never, I believe, 
comes out of the ground. It throws up at the mouth of its 
* In the stomach and duodenum of a capybara which I opened, I found a 
very large quantity of a thin yellowish fluid, in which scarcely a fibre could 
be distinguished. Mr. Owen informs me that a part of the cesophagus is so 
constructed that nothing much larger than a crowquill can be passed down. 
Certainly the broad teeth and strong jaws of this animal are well fitted to 
grind into pulp the aquatic plants on which it feeds, 
