720 THE BIZCACHA. 



NATA CATTLE. 



Darwin mentions a remarkable breed of cows called the 

 nata or niata. The animal has a very short and broad fore- 

 head, with the nasal end turned up, and the upper lip much 

 drawn back. Its lower jaw projects below the upper, and 

 has a corresponding upward curve ; hence its teeth are always 

 exposed. Its nostrils are seated high up, and are very open ; 

 and the eyes are projecting. When walking, it carries its 

 head low on a short neck ; and its hind-legs are rather longer 

 compared with the front ones than is usual. 



The breed is supposed to have originated amongst the 

 Indians southward of the La Plata. It is fiercer than common 

 cattle ; and the cow easily deserts her first calf if molested or 

 visited too often. Now, it is a singular fact that an almost 

 similar structure to the abnormal one of the niata breed 

 characterizes the great extinct ruminant of India — the siva- 

 therium. The breed is very true, and the niata bull and cow 

 invariably produce niata calves. " Can it be that this animal 

 is an aboriginal of the continent, and existed ages before the 

 European breeds were introduced ? " asks Mr. Darwin. 



THE BIZCACHA. 

 The careless horseman on the Pampas soon becomes dis- 

 agreeably acquainted with the existence of a little rodent — the 

 bizcacha — into whose closely-set burrows should his horse step, 

 he will to a certainty find himself pitched over his steed's 

 head. It closely resembles a rabbit, but with larger gnawing 

 teeth and a longer tail. It has only three toes behind, like the 

 agouti. The creatures are seen in great numbers during the 

 evening seated on their haunches in front of their abodes, 



