MAMMALIA. 



19 



the fore-legs are also white. An irregular black line runs across the lower 

 part of the chest and extends over the base of the fore-legs externally, and 

 above this line there are two other transverse dark markings on the chest, 

 which are more or less defined. On the fore-legs there are three broad black 

 bands, two of which encircle the leg, and on the posterior legs there are about 

 five black bands externally, and some irregular dark spots internally. The feet 

 are yellowish, and the underside of the tarsus is of a slightly deeper hue. 

 On the belly there are numerous large irregular black spots. The ears are 

 of moderate size, furnished internally with long white hairs ; externally, the 

 ears are of the same colour as the head, excepting at the apex where the 

 hairs are black and form a slight tuft. The tail is short, somewhat bushy, and 

 devoid of dark rings or spots — the hairs are in fact coloured as those of the 

 back of the animal. On the upper part of the body each hair is brown at 

 the base, then yellow, and at the apex, black. On the hinder part of the 

 back the hairs are almost black at the base, and on the sides of the body 

 each hair is gray at the base ; there is then a considerable space of yellowish- 

 white colour ; towards the apex they are white, and. at the apex black. The 

 greater number of the hairs of the moustaches are white. 



In. Lines. 



Length from nose to root of tail . .26 



to base of ear . .36 



of tail (fur included) . .11 



In. Lines. 

 Length of ear . . ■ .111 



Height of body at shoulders . .13 



Habitat, Santa Cruz, Patagonia, {April,) and Bahia Blanca, {August.) 



The markings in this animal vary slightly in intensity ; those on the body 

 are generally indistinct, but the black rings on the legs are always very con- 

 spicuous. 



"This animal takes its name from 'paja,' the Spanish word for straw, from 

 its habit of frequenting reeds- It is common over the whole of the great plains, 

 which compose the eastern side of the southern part of America. According to 

 Azara, it extends northward as far as latitude 30°, and to the south, I have reason 

 to believe, from the accounts I have received, that it is found near the Strait of 

 Magellan, which would give it a range of nearly 1400 miles, in a north and south 

 line. One of my specimens was obtained, in 50° south, at Santa Cruz : it was 

 met with in a valley, where a few thickets were growing. When disturbed, it did 

 not run away, but drew itself up, and hissed. My other specimen was half- 

 grown, and was killed in the end of August, at Bahia Blanca." — D. 



d 2 



