312 The Naturalist in La Plata. 



distress from the prisoners reach and incite them 

 to attempt their deliverance. Many social species 

 are thus powerfully affected by cries of distress 

 from one of their fellows ; and some will attempt a 

 rescue in the face of great danger — the weasel and 

 the peccary for example. 



Mild and sociable as the vizcachas are towards 

 each other, each one is exceedingly jealous of any 

 intrusion into his particular burrow, and indeed 

 always resents such a breach of discipline with the 

 utmost fury. Several individuals may reside in the 

 compartments of the same burrow ; but beyond 

 themselves not even their next-door neighbour is 

 permitted to enter ; their hospitality ends where it 

 begins, at the entrance. It is difficult to compel a 

 vizcacha to enter a burrow not his own ; even when 

 hotly pursued by dogs they often refuse to do so. 

 When driven into one, the instant their enemies 

 retire a little space they rush out of it, as if they 

 thought the hiding-place but little less dangerous 

 than the open plain. I have frequently seen viz- 

 cachas, chased into the wrong burrows, summarily 

 ejected by those inside : and sometimes they make 

 their escape only after being well bitten for their 

 offence. 



I have now stated the most interesting facts I 

 have collected concerning the vizcacha : when others 

 rewrite its history they doubtless will, according to 

 the opportunities of observation they enjoy, be able 

 to make some additions to it, but probably none of 

 great consequence. I have observed this species 

 in Patagonia and Buenos Ayres only ; and as I have 

 found that its habits are considerably modified by 



